The Detroit times., 1910-02-19


while n he permits that same patient
10 go TO an honest consultant, The
eraft game is aot< possible Either
party 60 this Kind of compact viii
naturally regard less AMI less any In.
fierest hut his own desire for immedi-
rte gain.
The public should he taught by
physicians Ia understand better what
constitutes the basis OF their charges.
IL should be made plain that. In the
lchoice or even The Endorsement OF a
specialist who Is 10 be called into IN .
case. the family doctor is rendering
valuable service 10 his patient. If
IN operation is found necessary, he
should be the. family representative
az the operating taole. 10 indorse, 10
criticize, or at least 10 understand
and bear witness 20 what Is done.
II this function or the general pTac-
titioner Is made impossible by mis-
being in the pa: OF an INSCRIPTIONS
surgeon. what safeguard Is left to the
patient against malpracticeS
The physician's reward for the re-
sponsibility here assumed should b.
ample. and the specialist or consul
tant or surgeon should. in every way
possible support this calm OF his
colleague. lie should not. howeyef.
falsely assume To meet that claim
himself. while charging fee which.
because IL is divided, in the average
OF cases, bound &c be that mucl
hlgher-lnless we admit that the sur
geon buys the raticnt with his own
money
The Rev John McCarroll, rector OF
Grace Episcopal church, former
medical practitioner. who still Is a
member of the profession in good
standing. makes an interesting con
tribution TO the symposium.
The last place in the world one
ought to look for thai abominatioh
known as graft should be'in the mel
zeal profession he says. Opinions
differ as 10 the extent 10 which IL
prevails among reputable physicians
and surgeons That IL should exist
~ al Is scandal TO which public at
tontion should frequently be called
More than that. some meanss should
he devised TO remove this disgrac-
from our profession.
Dangerous Form of Offense.
lin the legal profession provision
is made for disbarment In the army
anC navy there is found a way TO deal
with conduct unbecoming an officer
Division oi fees Is one of The most
prevalent ana dangerous forms OF
ofienses among us
No penalty can be too severe for
such a practice. There can be little
difference OF opinion among gentl,
men as TO the ethics in such matters
Al present the inexperienced or the
country physician IS sorely tempted -
pl olong home treatment because cor
suitatlon or operation may mean 4
lSrgc fee for his brother practition
or ana little or nothing for himself
sometimes actual expense 10 himself.
Anyone can see how his judgment IS
liable 10 ne warped in selecting con.
Slltant If there exists the temptation
of surreptitious reward In one choice
and scarcely a thank you" in the
ether"
Dr. MeCarrol suggests three ways
Tor reducing this denomination" TO a
EiinInum. First. by studying the meth
ous OF the bar association and secur
ing occasional convictions under the
LEsperance act of 1907. which pro-
vides i penalty for employing any
C.bpcT. solicitor or drummer for the
purpose of securing patients. or pay
ing or presenting 10 any person money
or any other thing of value for like
purpose; second. by making it a
ro Cognized part OF the etiquette ot
cOpsGltants and specialists 10 refuse
cases unless proper recognition in the
matter OF fees be given to the regu-
Ii family physician. who will have
tho responsibility Of caring for the pa
tent" third. by Informing the pub
lie OF the existence or the evil"
Bishop Williams was one OF those
interviewed by the Medical Journal.
He confessed tEat he was ignorant
that such an evil existed until he
learned OF il at dinner a few weeks
ago.
II was much surprised TO learn
that such practice prevailed TO even
q slight extent in the medical profess
Gaity are not aware of it, | had al
ways placed medicine on the same
plane. as ART or literature.
Bishop Williams Castigation.
II consider any financial induce
ment on the part OF the surgeon or
specialist offered the family physician
for patients referred to him. the worst
ard most dangerous kind of graft. The
ri ysiC ian who would barter the con.
fcence of his patient is unworthy IF
hts calling II Is terrible 10 think of
what any such arrangement between
surgeon and physician might lead to.
II would virtually mean that the sur.
gCon who offered the most generous
Inducements would get the most pa
ti,nts and the patients interests
would not receive any consideration.
Il realize that the physician who
refers the case should receive some
rcCompense over the ordinary fee, il
he has made an important diagnosis
o. has spent extra time looking after
the patients interests. but he should
arrange matters with the patient him
SELF and the patient ought 10 pay him
for his services as willingly as he
pays the surgeon who performs the
Of GRAFTON"
Or. Campbell An Optimist.