The New York herald., 1921-07-30
new YORK SURGEONS
OPPOSE FEE RULING
Johns Hopkins Announce
ment Generally Regarded
as Unjustified.
BENEFITS ONLY POOR
Surgeons Say That Charges
Should Be Based on Abil-
ity of Patient to Pay.
MAYO CUSTOM FAVORED
Others Believe Hospital De-
cision an Attempt to Adver-
tise Institution.
BENEFITS ONLY POOR
MAYO CUSTOM FAVORED

No arbitrary limit should be set upon
the amount that surgeons may charge
for an operation. That was the opin-
ion expressed by most New York sur
geons who were asked yesterday TO
comment upon the announcement by
the trustees of Johns Hopkins Hos
pital in Baltimore that $1,000 is the
maximum fee any surgeon ought to
charge for an operation, and that $35
q week is sufficient to cover his sub
sequent visits to the hospital.
1t was made known in dispatches
from Baltimore last night that the
trustees action was taken upon the
recommendation Of the medical board
of the hospital, and it was intimated
by one Of the trustees that the ruling
came as the result Of much talk about
the large fees at Johns Hopkins.
HospftaTs Charges Low.
''The matter has been exaggerated. .
he said, "but the repetition OF it un-
doubtedly has done damage to the hos
pital and given the impression In many
places that Johns hopkins Is r:en
mans institution. Our own doctors
thought 1t was time to take action, and
the trustees accepted their plans. If
people would only seek to know all about
the hospital they would soon find that
its charges are low and that the high
fees OF its noted men are rarer than
they are supposed to be.
II don't know how many members
Of the medical board were present when
these conclusions were reached, but
know they came to US with the boards
Endorsement"
1t was also stated that the ruling
makes provision for fees in excess Of
$1,000 in special cases, which must be
submitted for approval to the committee
on fees.
The announcement nevertheless re-
suited In great deal Of unfavorable
criticism both from physicians in Balti-
more and in this city.
Only a small group of men, not more
than i've, are said to be offenders at
Hopkins in the matter of exorbitant fees.
One Of these Is said to charge $4,000
for serious operations on persons with
incomes ranging from $50o,0o0 to ST.
1t Is declared that surgeon has been
making at least $25o.000 a year.
The medical board at Johns Hopkins
includes DIR. Llewellyn r. Barker, DIR.
John NJ. T. Finney, DIR. william 8. Hal
sted, DR.. Henry M. Hurd. DR.. Thomas s.
Cullen, DR.. william G. McCallum. Or.
Adolf Meyer. DIR. Winford M. Smith, DR..
William H. Welch and DIR. J. Whitridge
Williams.
Dement'S Only Rich.
Some of the New York men inter-
viewed declared they would take their
patients to private institutions for op.
Grafton and treatment rather than sub
ject themselves to the dictum of hos
pital regarding the charge proper for
them to make Some favorable COM
ment was made upon the principle prac-
tised by the Mayo brothers of Roches-
ter. by which the patient Is asked to
pay fee not exceeding per cent. OF
his income
One of the most prominent surgeons
in New York. whose reputation Is ma
tionsI, but who would not permit his
name to be used, regretted strongly the
action taken by the Johns Hopkins trus-
tees. as benefitting only the very rich
man. He said he believed the Baltimore
institution acted in the hope of drawing
many wealthy patients to its doors
After the difficulty of the operation
II taken into consideration" he said
surgeons base their fees upon a man,
ability to pay. The establishment of g
maximum fee does not make any diff
ference in the case Of the poor man, who
usually receives treatment for little ol
nothing. 1t makes a big difference ir
the favor Of the wealthy man. but does
nothing whatever for the man In average
circumstances who Is feeling the pincf
all along the line"
Higher Fees Justified.
DR.. Charles II. Peck. vice-president OF
the New York Academy OF Medicine
was Of the opinion that there are cases
in which a bigger fee than $1,000 Is
justified.
The basis upon which this ruling has
been made" he said. ''is. / suppose. the
fact that overcharges have been made
In the medical profession Just as In
other forms of service There is nc
reason whatever why Johns Hopkins
should not make such ruling IL Il
pleases to do so, because no surgeons
outside that hospital are affected by the
dictum--at least not directly. The estab-