The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-04-19
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR

IL " ILL A4/4 II Wv
The Editor:
We presume that the authors of a
Letter to the Editor" last week will
be searching this weeks issue for an
answer, and will not be as surprised
as we were!
We would rather discuss the sub
ject face to face rather than by this
left-handed method, but this letter
will help establish direct contact. We
will be only too glad to meet with
this or any other group for such a
discussion.
At first glance last weeks letter
had the appearance of "slap in the
face" but the general contents would
indicate that it is a sincere effort to
improve relations and conditions for
both the Public and the Medical Pro-
fession. And to this end we are al
ways ready and willing to comply. A
complete answer would require an
extra edition of the Bluffton News
but we will return the ball" with
this brief reply-and we don't mean
to start controversy!
In general we feel that their points
are well taken and that they have
given good answers. It's especially
refreshing to have them suggest that
the public give some consideration to
the doctors hours for living as well
as working. We have pleaded for this
for years! We know that we are
"public servants" but resent being
treated as "slaves" by some few who
think only of their immediate desires
and make the most absurd demands
at ridiculous hours! This situation
has improved greatly in recent years,
however.
Their definition of an emergency
is rather incomplete and should be
discussed more fully. Of course, you
must realize that most emergency"
calls are greatly exaggerated due to
fright and bewilderment. This of
course is no fault of theirs but we
would suggest that anyone making
an emergency call should try to be
calm and report the difficulty as ac-
curately as possible. All of us have
answered so many false ALARMS"
that it becomes difficult to heed the
cry of "wolf!" over and over again!
In serious accidents it is well to
call the hospital at the same time the
ambulance is called and have them
get in touch with the doctor on call.
We take monthly turns at being on
first call for emergency. In case of
local people we prefer that the
family doctors name be learned if
possible and that the operator or
hospital be asked to call him right
away. If they have no choice, the
hospital will notify the doctor on
first call.
And now, Mr.. Editor, in that Part
ii they really "hit the jackpot!'
Surely they did not expect us to OBJ
ject! When they say 1--WE the public
would guarantee him three uninter-
rupted Thursdays and Sundays in ex-
change for one Thursday and Sunday
on duty" their proposal really ex-
ceeds our fondest hopes. We have
discussed this problem among our
selves for years and always come up
with the same sad answer at Just
won't work."
In the first place they just don't
understand Mr.. John @. Public or
Mrs. John @. Public-or Johnnie Jr.
Public-or little Susie @. Public! 1t
would be wonderful to be able to
spend a Thursday afternoon and
evening and Sunday at home with
guaranteed" freedom from phone
calls, or patients who forgot to go to
the office yesterday, etc, ETC.! This
guarantee" would call for formida-
bic action, however. 1t would take a
brave, strong willed operator at the
switchboard an armed guard for each
doctors home and bodyguard to
accompany him to the garden, thru
town on business, or with his family
to the swimming pool, the movie, on
even to church! We are just never
1
free day or night and we certainly