The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-12-27
A PLEA FOR A SQUARE
DEAL FOR the
PATIENT


deal.
| THE daily press and popular
monthly magazines are beginning the
discussion of this fee-splltting bus-
ness. The people have been kept in
Ignorance of the plan, or it could
never have reached its present mag
nitude. Organized medicine has been
negligent. Had the people been fully
advised at the beginning of the prac-
lice they would themselves, as mat
ter of self protection have stopped 1t.
They would have said to the family
! physician, 1 want to pay you Tor
your services. | want to pay you
or your examination and for your ad-
Wee. If YOU have advised operation
want to pay you for that. If you
have advised me to take one OF my
loved ones 10 hospital for operation,
ana IN your conscientious judgment
as my physician, as the guardian oil
the health of my wife and children,
as my friend and confidential adviser
YOU can add safety to my dear one
by going with me to consult with
the specialists we are going TO EN-
ploy to operate, then by all means
so; give the specialist the benefit OF
your acquaintance with the family,
the benefit Of your observation and
treatment OF the case, and render me
your bill for the service. But re-
member, doctor, you are working for
me; you are the custodian of the
health Of my family, the question of |
life or death may depend ON whether |
or not you have made wise seIec-
ton OF the operator. DO not allow |
yourself to be influenced by personal |
friendship TOR some particular spe-
ciHist; do not allow yourself to be
Influenced by some personal grudge,
and, by a.. manner of means. do not
take my sick to one who will pay
you fee for the favor. If the spe-
cialist is willing to pay you fee for
bringing him the patient, there is
the beginning OF colluslon between
you. where, for financial reasons,
You will protect the specialist and
he will protect you, and the Lord, un-
aided by the greatest boon to suf-
tering humanity loyal, consclen.
tlOus family physician will have TO
care for my child alone. Doctor,
don't put yourself in a position to he
unwisely, unwittingly or selhshly In
luenced, You are in my employ; |
will compensate. you as best can,
and ! want to know that | nave re-
ceved that to which am entitled --
your whole-soul, honest, conscientious
advice and, irrespective of results, |
will know that my friend, my advIs-
er, my doctor, has given the patient
a square DEAL
White believes that whenever the
people understand the question thor
oughly II will not be necessary for
us to discuss 1t in medical meetings
for they will themselves condemn
the practice Of fee-splitting and stop
it. AS matter of common sense, the
people will know thai their family
physician cannot give them an un-
biased opinion when he is being Sc /
cretly paid for his advice by anoth-
er, who is to profit thereby; and
wnen they realize that such Is the
,ase, they will lose confidence in him
and will employ new family physi-
,ian." 4
When the family physician takes a
his case to the specialist White 4
would have him say, Here is my pa 4
.ient; here is the history, here is the q
'esult of my treatment my Observa- q
ions and conclusions. Make your
and give me your ad- "A
vice as to operation or treatment, z
rave advised the family that my visit 4
md consultation would be $25 Cor y
maybe slOOJ; that they should pro- &
'ide for that before paying you your q
eel that my services we're rendered n
Fst. and by priority should be paid q
irst; that II they have not enough &
money, to give you a note for the 4
alanee due you" y
''Would this be fair to thespecial- g 8
st? To be sure 1t would, and all q
men would approve IT, q
nd, best OF all, it @puld be fair to z
he patient. for 1t Would Insure him q
hat to which he is entitled-a con- Z
frank, business-like hand X
Ing Of his case. Those specialists q
'ho are paying commissions for their d
ases have manufactured smooth, x
lausible story to repeat to the gem q
raj practitioner, and the burden Of d