The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-17
Or. L. ". Larson Reviews TOPIC
Of Hectic Discussion From
Viewpoint Of Physician

The relation of the medical profes.
sion to the public has become one ex.
pressed in dollars and cents to such
an extent that q wide field of agita.
ton and controversy or the cost o.
keeping we'll has been developed.
This economic and professional
phenomenon was taken up a week age
by DR.. L. W. Larson and was discuss
cd in a paper before the Kiwanis club
The doctor tried to account for the
various phases Of criticism and tc
reveal to the complaining laity the
side Of the argument dealing with the
physician, the clinic and the hospital
and justifying their attitude toward
the public. He strove particularly to
disabuse the public Of any impression
that the medical profession had shift
ed from a basis Of recompensed be-
n~evolence to one of sordid acquisitive-
ness.
1.-The problem Of the cost of medical
and hospital care has become, lately"
said DR.. Larson, lone of the most dis
cussed problems of this country. The
rich are not concerned I'VE this prob
lem. The poor have always been taken
care of by those who pay the taxes.
It Is the great middle class which has
become alarmingly concerned. Mod
ern cramped quarters are inadequate
when sickness visits the household.
AS a result disqualification has become
popular.
Physicians Incomes Not High
1.-THE middle class has been over
sold in the luxuries of life purchased
on the installment plan, said the doc
tor. accordingly, when sickness
strikes the family, It usually does SO
at O most inopportune time as far as
the finances of the household are con-
cerned. How many of us in planning
our budgets for the coming year take
into account the possibility of an ILL.,
ness.
Turning to the educational capital
ization involved, the doctor continued:
IF physicians fees and hospital
charges are unreasonably high, let US
consider for a moment the income of
physicians and the rate charged in
the average hospital. In order to
qualify for the degree Of doctor of
medicine in our class A medical
schools and to become eligible for a
license to practice medicine, the indi-
vidual must complete a minimum OF
at least seven years study after grad
uating from high school. This period
includes the last year of hospital
training. but does not allow for the
fact that most of u universities re-
uuire more than a minimum of two
years in an approved college before
entering the medical school and,
therefore, increase the number of to-
tai required years from seven to eight
or nine. Most of the young men
graduating spend a year in postgrad-
uate work after completing the regu-
lar courses, and thus we see that the
young doctor has spent ten years OF
his youth in preparing himself for his
profession.
There are a great many estimates
as to the cost of a good medical edu-
cation and I believe that If we allow
for the fact that the young man who
studies medicine could have at least
been making a living at some gainful
occupation the total cost would
amount to about $4,000.
THE young man who Is ready for
practice is faced with the problem of
finding a suitable location and get
ting started. Unless he is particularly
fortunate, he will have to go through
a period Of stringent economy until
his income justifies anywhere near a
decent return on his investment.
Twenty years ago it was estimated
that the average physician in Amer
lea had an income of about $1,000 q
year. The latest available figures
show that the estimate has been
raised so that 60 per cent Of the ply
sicians, who live in the small towns
! and rural districts, have an average
income of $4,000 a year, while the city
physicians have an average income Of
So, 500 a year. I am quite sure that
these incomes are not out of proper
ton as compared with those of bank
ers, lawyers and merchants.
Physicians Do Much Charity Work
"Those of you who have been un-
H-.I.-- ~->.I - 1aVvA i1ISNAcc IN