The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-04-07
THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF
SOCIAL SECURITY

come Is no sure guide to his abilit,
to pay for expensive sickness. An,
doctor can tell you that 1t is not onl,
the recognized poor who do not pa,
their bills but often those among the
lreputed well to do. These are jus
as liable to live up to the full extern
of their income and to have nothing
for emergencies. And | have moi
noticed that even those comfortably
well off take kindly to being soaked
that the doctor or hospital may gel
the credit of being generous and char
table. In fact l have been told that
| it was his resentment at an expert
ence Of this kind which caused q
wealthy industrialist actually to build
a hospital which should be run on a
similar basis of efficiency as his own
factory, with all its customers treated
alike. He did not succeed in reduc-
| ing his costs quite as much as he ex-
pected, but he did demonstrate again
| that hospital can be stated with an
efficient group of doctors on a salary
basis, who will give faithful service
without having the stimulus of an ex-
pected fee in each case.
And riches have a habit of taking
wings. That one is wealthy today is
no assurance that one will be so to-
morrow, as many found out during
the recent depression, and not all by
their own fault. One man | knew as
quite rich is now reduced to the nee
essity of a janitor's job in a school.
By paying their contribution when in
funds, and remember that under the
bill they are only made to contribute
to the extent of an income of $4,000,
they assure themselves of the neces-
sary minimum care no matter what
may happen to their wealth, and So
ciety is protected against being called
to provide for them in their adver-
sity. If they get sick while in the
happy state of wealth they can still
add to that minimum by as many
trimmings and Injuries as they desire.
AS member of the medical profess
sion and also of the American Med
ical Association | am not bit proud
of their attitude towards this subject
in general and particularly to this bill.
They seem to have forgotten their
scientific training, and instead of at
lacking it as they would a problem
in medicine, patiently acquiring the
facts and coolly and without emotion
seeking the significance of them so
no RI .xricn dani-
sion as to the course to be taken, they
have attacked it with the fervour of
fundamentalist defending ancient the
illogical dogmas-with much heat and
little light.
Much emphasis is laid on the fact
that the details of working out the
principles of the bill are left to the
Surgeon General. Ignoring their own
insistence that matters concerning the
actual practice of medicine should be
left to doctors they draw lurid pic
lures of one of their own members,
and a distinguished one at that, in the
role of a dictator, issuing his ukase
as to who shall practice medicine, |
the qualification of specialists, how
doctors shall be paid, how hospitals |
shall be conducted, and disposing of |
vast sums as his fancy shall dictate. |
Personally | have a better opinion of
he Surgeon General, far better one |
han of some of his detractors who
nave climbed to high places in med
cal organizations. l believe he will
ollow what to me is the clear inten-
ion of the bill, and carry out his in
;tructions in accordance with the
opinions of his council of advisers. If
he danger does exist, however, 1t
would be a very simple matter to
.hange the wording of the bill so as
o avoid it,
Much ado has been made of the
,reat expense, especially by the Ma
ional Physicians committee, which,
While not officially connected, seems
o be in some sort of symbolic rela-
ionship with the American Medical
They estimate the
mount allocated for medical care and
as about three billion
ollars, and, to emphasize the huge
ess of the sum, show what could be
one with it, and compare it with
arious national budgets. Of course
is large. But it is not new ex- {
ense which is proposed. l have al I
eady shown that we now spend an '
ually in this country about three and
ne-half billions for medical care.
By a systemization and organiza- t
on of medical facilities not only a