The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-03-31
THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF
SOCIAL SECURITY

mediation at his own expense, an,
there seems to be no provision TO
special nurses, though (Sec. 912), tn,
surgeon general is directed to stud,
and make recommendations as to thii
and also for dental benefits.
The detailed arrangements for the
provision of these benefits are lef
to the Surgeon General of the Public
Health Service, with the assistance o.
a council of sixteen members APP
pointed by him from panels of names
submitted by the professional anC
other agencies and organizations con
cerned with medical services and edu
cation and with the operation of hos
agencies, or organizations informed
on the need for or provision of med
zeal, hospital, or related services and
benefits" (Sec. 903a, sec. 904a). This
would seem to secure adequate rep
Presentation of the medical profession,
and also of organizations which have
established and been maintaining hos
pitfalls.
The method of payment to the doc
tors is left to the Surgeon General
and his board to work out by agree
ment with them. 1t may be ON fee
for-service basis, capitation allow
ance for each beneficiary who has
chosen that particular doctor, on a
salary basis, either whole or part
time, or combination of these, as
the majority of the general practi-
TONERS in each area may elect.
The Surgeon General has also to
make the necessary arrangements
with hospitals willing to participate
in the plan, and to establish standards
to which they must conform.
His job is not an enviable one. 1t
would be a comparatively simple mat
ter to devise a system which would
take care of the sick, but the trouble
is that so many vested interests have
grown up around the business that
it will be difficult to propitiate them
a perfectly rotten state of affairs
when you come to think of it.
Therefore, the bill has excited much
controversy and bitter opposition.
Some of this is based on honest con-
viction, but good deal of it is clearly
due to fear that it will interfere
with present profits. Many of the
against it are simply ra-
of this fear, and most
of them are on rather low level of
controversy.
1t is objected to by the doctors that
the bill will interpose third party
between the physician and his patient
to the disadvantage Of the latter.
am not sure but what this might be
an advantage. Some third party crit
ically watching his work and evaluat-
ing his results might make valuable
When such controversial
matters as the treatment of high |
blood pressure and the value of cold
vaccines come up for discussion in
medical circles / often wish that the |
evidence could be laid before some
awyer well trained in judging evil !
lence and with a keen appreciation
Of the power of suggestion. | think
lis conclusions might be very help
'ul. 1t should not be forgotten that
he doctor was originally a priest and
! magician. The very word "medi-
cine" suggests this. The two func-
ions ultimately were separated, the
priest combining himself to the spirit
lal world and the doctor to the mate
'ial. But neither liked to lose his
power over either the bodies or souls
If men. A long fight had to be waged
o free us from priestly dominance,
ind doctors, like them, consciously or
lnconsciously, dislike to be shorn of
my of their power.
The opposition of some hospital au-
horities equally stems from their
historical associations. Hospitals were
religious institutions, as
many still are, established to take
lad long and honorable career
such was the state of medical knowl-
dge at the time of their founding
hat they had little to offer in the
way of positive treatment, but the
rovision of shelter and food was a
reat boon to the needy of those
ines, though some of the standards
you'd hardly win approval now.
ave read that at the famous Hotel
lieu in Paris they used to put them
" in q bod Thie Tradition of charity Z
till fingers, and even though pa
lent may be paying good price for
is accommodation the attitude often