RECOVERY OF FEES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 14 October 1941, Page 3

RECOVERY OF FEES

NEW MEDICAL SCHEME j CONCERN OF AUCKLAND DOCTORS Auckland, Oct.. 13. j The attitude of the Auckland divi- ! j,ion of the British Medical Association toward the medical scheme under the (Social Security Amendment Act was | defined in a statement, issued yesterday Jon ils behalf by Dr L. G. Drury, } president. Sir Carriclc Robertson and |Mr A. Eisdcll Moore, vice presidents, land Drs E. J. Cronin, T. W. J. John- ] son and L. Ludbrook. “The medical profession has fully informed the public of the reasons for its strong opposition to the general practitioners amendment bill as originally presented to Parliament,” the statement reads. “These were, in brief: That it was unworkable, since medical attention being free, the doctors would be overwhelmed; that it would mean a lower standard of medical attendarce; and that it contained no provision for preventive medicine. LOWER STANDARD OF TREATMENT j “The bill, therefore, offered a lower standard of treatment for disease without making any provision for its preI vention. “The profession is grateful for the I widespread, spontaneous support given j by the public. It is largely due to this ; that the bill has been amended so as | materially to alter the original pro- 1 ! posals. j “These amendments restore the right I of the patient and his doctor to make j their own private and personal ari rangements and the right of the doctor j Ito charge the fee arranged between ! them. In other words, both doctor and ; j patient arc free as they always have j been. The doctor is not bound by any J contract and his fee is not fixed. His! I fee is payable by the patient, who can (claim up to 7s Gel on the production of I satisfactory proof of payment for that : attendance. A VITAL POINT "The patient will be responsible for part of the payment. This is the vital ' point in making the scheme workable. • for it will abolish many unnecessary j calls, enable the doctcr to give better ! attention to bis patients, and will pro- 1 vent much waste of public moneys. Whether the Government's contribution toward the cost of the attendance is j 15s or 7s (id is a matter that does noli concern the doctor, whose only care is I the welfare of the patient. “The profession is still of the opinion ( that a non-political commission should be set up to go into all the factors that influence health and to suggest a pro- ! gramme of health legislation that will j really do something to improve the standard of health. LN S A TISI A C TOR Y 1* O SITIO N “The doctors are concerned at the refusal of the Government to restore the right of a doctor, like any other citizen, to recover in the Courts a fee (which it is legal for him to receive. This position is unsatisfactory and will | lead to misunderstanding by the public and may disturb the conlidential re- ! lationship between patient and doctor, iln the opinion of the profession, this J matter must be adjusted before it can give its co-operation. “We wish to make it clear to the public that the workability of the scheme depends on the patient being responsible for some part of the fee. To make this effective the right of access to the Courts should be given. "That a doctor rarely sues for fees,’ as the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said in the House, ‘is insufficient reason for withholding the right to do so.’ ” -