Accident compensation

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 12

Accident compensation

Sir,—lf, as reported, the Accident Compensation Corporation is proposing to use accident victims as a club to beat down medical charges, I am disgusted. It should spend administration money more carefully and police costs itself. To say that when injury victims have to pay the bill first, then reclaim, they will "bring market forces to bear,” reducing charges, is monetarist nonsense. It may be fine for the elite on exorbitant salaries, but out in the real world where most accidents occur money is so scarce people simply cannot afford this. Will we read in the newspapers: “Tenders are called for the repair of a damaged human child”? Should one, if quoted $3O at a medical centre in one suburb, take a $2O taxi ride to another where fees are $2B? And how many months will it take to get a refund? The next step would be 50 per cent refunding.—Yours, etc., REX KNIGHT. July 24, 1989.

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