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Speak Out
Doctor story didn't exaggerate problem
I read with great interest your article on doctors (The doctor is out, Jan. l7). Everything that you reported is true. I have been in practice for 36 years and love what I do, but fees no longer cover the cost of care.
However, here is another view that has not been covered: A successful physician generally works 70 to 80 hours a week. When paid a reasonable fee for his services he can usually afford a more expensive automobile and home. Many of the public and the press have accused physicians of being profiteers in disease and berate them for having a nice home. This same public wants their physician to be available through the night and day, and wants the quality of care that they are used to, but only want to pay him $8 per head per month. I don't know how to practice cheap medicine.
The public has gotten what it asked for, bringing physicians to their collective knees. Now the question is, who won?
Ernest M. Thomas Jr., M.D.
Los Gatos
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
