Evening star., 1938-12-20

plying of medical care in this man.
ner and on this basis may be so or
ganized as to obtain qualified doc
tors and to afford those doctors con-
ditions of practice which are con-
ducive to high quality of medical
service satisfactory to both doctor
and patient and which enable the
said doctors to find satisfaction in
their work and to obtain a stable,
adequate net income; moreover,
that this method of supplying med
ical care may be utilized without
unduly affecting such free choice of
physicians as is ordinarily enjoyed
by patients and without involving
interference on the part of laymen
with the medical service or with the
relationship subsisting between doc
tor and patient. There is reason to
believe, and large body of in
formed opinion holds, that such
method of providing medical care is
less costly than, and. in many re-
spectS from the standpoint of both
doctor and patient, superior to in
dividual practice on fee for service
basis.
Policy Of Opposition.
Is. Principally for economic rea-
sons and because it has feared, for
its members, business competition
from the doctors connected with Or
ganizations in which doctors engage
in group practice on a risk sharing
prepayment basis, defendant Amer
ican Medical AsSocia ton, and the in
dlvidual defendants employed by
said defendant Association, have
adopted and for many years have
pursued a policy of opposition to ex-
perimentation with such organiza-
tlons, and have taken affirmative
steps to oppose their formation and
operation throughout the United
States.
V. The Dominant Position of
Defendant American Medical As
ISOLATION and the Circumstances
Affording the Defendants, Act
ing Together, Economic and other
Coercive Power to Restrain Group
Medical Practice on a Risk Shar-
ing Prepayment Basis.
A. The Importance of Member
ship in Medical Societies, of Con-
situations and of Hospital Privi-
leges.
16. Membership in medical So
ciety affiliated with defendant Amer
lcan Medical Association, and hence
in defendant American Medical AS
soclation itself, is valuable for prac-
ticing doctors because such men,
bershlp carries professional prestige,
because defendant American Med
lcal Association and affiliated So
cieties provides services for and con-
facts to members, and because MANY
doctors and many hospitals and
others serving the medical profess
sion deal only with such doctors as
are members of defendant American
Medical Association Exclusion or
expulsion from membership in a
medical society affiliated with de-
fendant American Medical Associa-
ton, and hence from membership in
defendant American Medical Asso-
citation itself, deprives doctors, in.
Guiding doctors engaged in group
practice on a risk sharing prepay
ment basis, of these ADVANTAGES and
also injuries their professional
standing.
Privileges of Hospitals.
II. Consultations between doctors
are frequently advantageous, both
to the patient and to the doctors.
Defendant American Medical AS
sociation recommends that doctors
seek consultations with other doc
tors IN cases Of serious illness.
Consultations with specialists out
side OF the group is frequently de-
slrable for doctors engaged in group
practice on a risk-sharing prepay
ment basis. Doctors, including doc
tors engaged in group practice on q
risk-sharing prepayment basis. are
seriously handicapped if they are
prevented from obtaining consulta-
tons.
18. The privilege of attending and
treating their patients in a we'll
equipped hospital is essential for all
practicing surgeons. Such privilege
is desirable for all practicing doc
tors. Exclusion from hospitals of
surgeons and physicians, including
those engaged in group practice on
a risk-sharing prepayment basis, Sc
riously restrains them in the pur-
suit Of their callings.
10. It is desirable and frequently
essential for the successful conduct
Of the business Of organizations en-
gagged in arranging for the pro-
vision of medical care by salaried
doctors engaged in group medical
practice on risk-sharing prepay
ment basis, and thus for the men,
hers Of or subscribers to such Or
ganizations, that the doctors COM
posing the medical stats thereof,
equally with other doctors. be af-