Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-07

Recently on return plane trip
from New York l was seated
next to a nervous young man. At
flrst l though that he was afraid
to be in the air. He would get up
and walk the length of the plane
and back. He lighted his ciga-
fettes end to end.
On reconsidering. I know he
wouldn't dare think of walking
in plane during his first fight.
1t was something else. l soon
found out.
Il suppose I should explain my
apparent nervousness he said.
I'm sure that I'm making this
far from a restful journey for
you"
"Oh, that's all right" I said.
"You must have good reason for
the way you feel. None of lis
goes out Of the way TO be a trial
to his neighbors.
Il don't suppose people want
to hear the other fellows trout
bles. he said. There's enough
trouble in the world. But it
happens that my father is very
sick-and I'm terribly worried :"
IL was then that l told him
that am a physician. You could
see the relief in his features.
Here was somebody else ne
could talk to who might not feel
put upon and bored! l learned
that he was 33, married and the
father of boy and girl. He had
been away from his family for
two weeks to be with his father.
Now his brother had come in to
take up the vigil so that he
might take time out.
Infection Detected
my dad is very ILL.," he said.
"He is so. never had sick day
in his life until he had this
operation. II was simple thing
but he had to be the one fellow
out of a thousand who got into
trouble! The doctors say he has
a blood-stream infection that has
caused a peculiar type of pneu-
monia and liver complication"
I cheered him up a little when
/ told him that l had seen many
similar patients recover. l said
that his doctors certainly seemed
TO know what they were doing
and that that was important
and heartening.
1t was that remark which
started him of on another tan
gent Of discussion. fees.
I've been thinking" he said
"how hard it must be on people
who can't afford good medical
care. Take US. for instance. 1t
happens that my family has
quite a bit OF the material thing
called money. / had three top
men in the field come in from
out of town during the past few
days. ! was glad TO pay the
$1,000 in consultation fees 1t
cost.
IT'S a wonderful feeling to
know that you're doing every
thing possible for the one you
love the best. But I've been Sit
ting here thinking how tough it
would be on some other son or
daughter who didn't have the
money wonder how they feel,
wondering If the sick one is get
ting the very best medical atten-
ton.
/ told him that most people
IN this country get fine medical
care. | mentioned that ward pa
tients usually have the services =
gratis--Of the best men in the
community. Hospitals are stated
by the most qualified doctors. If
a poor patient Is sick he has at
his service thousands OF dollars
in treatment and consultation
fees without charge
As for the wealthy, they have
available the choice Of the fore
most physicians and surgeons.
and the best in nursing and hos
pital facilities.
COnsultant Plan Offered
"rhats all true. doctor" he
said But before YOU discuss the
hardships OF the white collar
class, let me give you my opinion
OF what's needed ! am not a
believer In sociali2ed medicine.
mind you But | do think that
Bome arrangement ought TO be