--
Richard Chudacoff, MD
War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong;
and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.
Thomas Jefferson
-----Original Message-----
From: ob-gyn-l@obgyn.net [mailto:ob-gyn-l@obgyn.net]On Behalf Of Steve &
Eryl Raymond
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 12:17 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list OB-GYN-L
Subject: Re: Article-'Some Doctors Letting Patients Skip Co-Payments
The reference to the British system reminds me that in 1948 when it was
proposed to the British medical profession that they should go onto an
NHS funded capitation scheme there was considerable opposition, based on
the idea that the professional freedom of doctors was threatened. This
in fact didn't happen because there was a proper arrangement with the
government to preserve that freedom. How ironic then that the "greatest
democracy in the world" - the "land of the free and the home of the
brave" - should have managed to fetter its doctors with the bonds of
managed care so that to "go out of network" could be considered a crime.
Isn't there enough at stake to justify all doctors considering pulling
out of such arrangements, or is the short term gain greater than the
long term? Is it true that the sign of maturity is the ability to
forego short term gains for the greater long term?
Steve
DoctorJoe@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 12/28/03 15:07:40, jkulkin@mindspring.com writes:
>
>> Bigger message here........patients are starting to go out of network
>> seeking more care? and other things....like time with the doc. Will be
>> interesting to see where this goes.
>
> Just remember what this meant in Hillary-Med.... The doctor would be a
> CRIMINAL if out-of-network payments were made. Not even in the British
> system are doctors forbidden to do outside work if the patient wants
> to pay for it, right?
>
> Joe P.
>
--
S.H. Raymond FRCOG
Principal Specialist
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Empangeni Hospital
Private Bag X20005
Empangeni
SOUTH AFRICA 3880
Phone: (+27)-35-9028560
Fax: (+27)-35-7922596
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing
himself.
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)
