Evening star., 1961-02-18

The medical care program
outlined by President Ken
nedy clearly indicates that
he has been taken in" by
Walter Reuther. He states
that this is not Socialized
medicine, but he fails to state
how 1t differs.
Does Mr.. Kennedy really
believe that the demands for
free medical care would stop
with this program? Ger
tainly the President Is not
too young to remember what
happens to the appeaSer. 1t
is not possible to satisfy the
appetite Of union leaders
who are fighting for social
ism. These men would only
have their appetites wetted
with a taste of free" medi-
cal care and the battle would
be on.
The ANA and doctors in
general have been obstruc-
tionists in the past, but they
are now striving seriously to
improve the availability Of
better medical care to all
segments Of the population
and the objective is within
sight.
The doctor would not suffer
under Government medicine
because he would collect his
fees and his security would
be assured. The patient
would be the loser because
he would have to wait in long
lines to see the doctor and
then only briefly.
I believe Congress will re-
ject the Presidents proposal
now as it did five months
ago. believe that our Con-
gress will vote down this
scheme because 1t is not the
desire of the masses to in
itiate a plan that means
eventual socialized medicine
for everyone.
There has been no reliable
estimate of the cost to the
Government for medical care
to the needy and needless
over age IS. The cost will
surely be in excess Of $5 bill
lions because this is what
this group is now paying for
major medical bills alone.
The proposed increase in So
cial security taxes for this
purpose would only pay Is
to 20 per cent. We are told
that all this will be paid for
without increasing taxes.
Any program that is total
ly financed by taxes is So
cialized medicine, and putting
a sugar coating on it doesn't
make the pill less effective.
There is an answer to the
problem and we all admit
that a problem exists. The
answer Is not a crash scheme
that can never be reversed
and that will saddle our
grandchildren who have no
voice.
II Uncle Sam offered to
pay half Of your hospital bill
of $4,000 would you be too
proud to show the need?
Under social security, multi
millionaires and poor alike
would qualify. 1t is not logi-
cal to take any part of the
salary of the poor to pay for
disqualification of the wealthy.
Frank JaggaS, MD.
Now is the hour Of historic
decision for organized medi-
cine: Are we profit-motivated
vendors Of healing or a
learned profession, unselfish-
ly serving the humanities? =?
II we are mere merchants,
the American Medical Asso-
citation should continue to be
our banker-spokesman. If, we
still are a learned profession,
whose business is healing,
whose loyalty is to the patients
whether they are on the
battlefield or the poor farm,
we must stand up to our ANA
and tell them: This is the
parting of the ways.
Our ANA belongs on the
side Of the humanities. In
war 1t never served the profit
motive. 1t said to those of
US who were physically fit,
you belong with your sons
and neighbors on the battle
field. No plea Of bankruptcy,
Of economic deprival or sacri-
flee served to mitigate its
stern command to serve,
Those who refused to volun-
teer were drafted without re-
spect to the immunities guar
anteed and granted every
other form of essential man.
power in critically short
supply. No other form of es-
sential manpower was sub
ject to draft, and their es-
tablished businesses subject
to the forfeiture Of abandon
ment up until the age Of SIS,
Thousands of our yourA doc
tors had to face that bank