Evening star., 1941-02-10
Doctors Charqe
Rich toAid Poor,
Court Is Told
DR.. Cabot Finishes
His Testimony in
Medical TrioI
BY HAROLD b. ROGERS.


told a jury in District Court where
organized medicine is on trial for
violating the Sherman Anti Trust
Act.
DR. Cabot was under redirect ex-
animation by John Henry Levin,
prosecution counsel. on whether or
CARNATIONS like Group Health As
sociation of this city take care OF
any INDECENT patients.
Would a group taking care OF
no INDECENT sick be held not m the
public INTEREST,"" asked Mr.. Levin.
Certainly not" replied DR.. Cabot.
When asked if it were proper for
group doctors on salary TO spend
funds for caring for the lndlgent.
DR.. Cabot replied that it would not
be proper because this would be an
improper use Of funds contributed
bv subscribers 10 the group.
Soaking Rich for Benefit Of Poor.
How can a fee-for service doctor
afford to take care of the indlgent?"
asked Mr.. Levin
Fee-for- service doctors in private
practice. DR.. Cabot testified. have
a kind of Income tax" or surtax on
a small class of the rich. This, he
explained. enables the private
physician to spend time IN taking
care of those who can paw less
than cost for medical care or some
times nothing at all.
He obtains fees from one group
which enable him TO carry on work
for another"
In other words" Mr.. Levin
asked. they are soaking the rich
for the benefit Of the poor
It makes no difference TO the
doctor treating the sick said ths
surgeon, whether or not the patient
has money.
DR.. Cabot underwent cross fire
of questions at the hands OF Mr..
Levin and William E. Leahy, counsel
for the defense.
He reiterated his support of the
general idea of group. practice OF
medicine and cleared up several
points at issue between the conflict
ing counsel.
Opposes Nom Member Bar.
The witness admitted that II was
in the public interest for the organ
lied medical profession to take an
active part in helping to maintain
high standards of hospital admin
istration. But he insisted that when
/ the American Medical Association
tried to enforce rule that none
/ but its own members be admitted 10
/ the staffs of hospitals, that was
getting pretty close of the line OF
irving to mind somebody else's
business. 1t doesn't smell good to
me"
One of the charges filed by the
Government against the American
Medical Associa ton and other de-
PENDANTS is that they entered into
a combination and conspiracy in re-
straint of trade TO keep out Of
Washington hospitals doctors and
surgeons attached to the staff OF
Group Health Association, Inc, q
medical cooperative of Government
employees here The other defend-
ants. in addition to the A. M. A.
are the Medical Society of the Dis
trict of Columbia. the Washington
Academy of Surgeons. the Harris
County Tex Medical Society and
20 physicians and surgeons. Is Of
whom are former officials and
prominent members of the local
medical society.
Most of Defendants on Hand.
Although Justice James M. Proc
tor, presiding in the trial, had given
the defendants permission TO be alb
/ sent from court. most Of them were
on hand when the trial reconvened
/ this morning after a week end recess
from the last previous session Friday
! afternoon. The trial was proceed
| ing slowly and Justice Proctor cau-
| toned counsel on both sides to avoid
questions which might repeat testl-
mony previously given. Early in
/ dications had pointed the trial run-
/ ming about two or three months.
! At the end of 81 days of court ses-
sion. however. the jury had been
picked and only one witness had
/ been heard following opening state
mentS by the prosecution and coun-
sci for defense.
DR.. Cabot reiterated today his
opinion that hospitals should take
advice from the medical profession,
but he insisted that the real con-
troll of a hospital was in the lay
board of trustees who. however.
! should accept advice on medical
questions from the medical profess
sion.
Articles Grossly Incomplete"
/ Turning to the Journal of the
/ A. M. A. which previously he had
praised as the most important
medical journal in the world DR..
| Cabot took exception of the editorial
policy of the publication in regard
to medical economics"
/ On question of scientific matters.
/ DR.. Cabot testified that the journal
had been of an open mind and had
allowed full and free discussion OF
scientific questions at stake. But
he charged that mo opportunity OF
/ discussion had been afforded for the
question Of medical economies in
cluding issues of group practice"
Declaring that many articles pub
hshed on this subject in the journal
had been grossly incomplete" he
declared they wouldn't stand up
against opposition for moment,
and in any scientific body would
have been torn limb from limb"
Against Soliciting Practice.
Cross examined by Mr. Leahy, DR..
Cabot admitted he was opposed to
individual doctors soliciting prac-
tice. but he felt that in the public
interest it was proper for certain
group practice organizations to ad-
vertiSe.
Asked "does the Mayo clinic ad-
vertise?" he said
You put me in an awkward posi-
ton"
The famous surgeon, formerly .
consultant in the Mayo clinic, then
testified that sometimes they came
close to the line"
- gx.ta