HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-12, Page 5Dear Editor....
• from page 4.
overtones.
Curiously, the views
expressed reflect a desire
to occupy a peculiar
position seeking
socialistic benefits with
capitalistic rewards.
More education and
long hours are not the
measures by which
capitalistic society
makes its rewards even if
they do count in a
socialistic society.
Capitalistic rewards
are determined in a
competitive fashion
through the uniqueness
and quality of services or
products provided and
the strength of consumer
demand.
It would not be difficult
to find people who work
longer and harder than
the medical profession
for a lower income.
Neither is your service
unique and I don'tybelieve
I've seen doctors com-
peting for public favour.
Such factors are overtly
discouraged by the
profession. It is the
profession itself which
controls entry into the
field and setsits own
criteria for continued
practice.
Ind a any other
capitalistic endeavor,
such as my own, such
practices are price
fixing, controlled entry
and standards of per-
formance, would be
quickly exposed as a
cartel and subject to
severe penalties.
Moreover, since 50
percent of the practicing
physicians graduated in
the bottom half of their
class, why should we
reward all equally' as
though they were equally
competent?
In addition to
economics, the study of
bookkeeping might be
beneficial. It was claimed
that with five calls per
hour at a rate of $7.70 per
call, a doctor earns $9.65
per hour, a rate less than
charged by garages.
Comparing a "net" to a
"gross" just doesn't
wash.
Your gross is closer to
$38.50 per hour. It's no
wonder the tax rate
quoted was 50 percent
meaning an annual 'in-
come of over $30,000.
A higher than normal
overhead rate was
mentioned, but, the'
doctor controls his own
overhead.
The question really is,
how much is a doctor
worth? Directly or in-
directly, the worth of
most people is deter-
mined by their ef-
fectiveness in the
marketplace. For a
variety of reasons, this
does not apply to
medicine, not the least of
which is that the medical
profession doesn't want it
that way.
Since it is not practical
to put a value on a doc-
tor's services, as a
craftsman or labourer
can do, let's look at it
from a business
viewpoint, because that's
really what doctors
operate.
In business, the ex-
pected rate of return and
of failure is reflective of
various risk factors -
higher risks reflect
higher required returns.
I'm not aware that
medical practice involves
much business risk.
' Greater business
rewards go to the most
efficient, even though this
is difficult to measure
except through com-
petitive results.
Since doctors do not
compete, there are no
pressures to improve
efficiency. And so it
follows through the
various business
barometers of risk, ef-
ficiency, service, in-
ventiveness, tenacity,
uniqueness etc. etc.
In a business sense the
medical profession isn't
much to write home
about, except, that
doctors do make a lot of
money, thanks in large
measure to their cartel
(OMA).
My point really is that
physicians' expectations
of "the good life" are
beyond their contribution
to the economy.
The doctor's after tax
and after expense,
claimed pay rate of $6.90
per hour, is really pretty
good. If a doctor can
parlay this into 70 or 80
hours of work each week,
then take long vacations,
I figure he's ahead of the
game.
Further naivety was
shown in comparing
OHIP administrative
charges to the claimed
major credit card rate of
three to five percent. In
fact, the banks profit
handsomely by
discounting the claimed
rate from payments to
business and then
stacking heavy interest
on top.
My guess is that OHIP
administrative charges
are about equivalent to
major credit card rake -
offs.
The doctor claimed
that the influx of U.K.
doctors into Ontario was
a measure of the,failure
of the U.K. systems and
by extension Ontario was
almost as bad. I suspect
that Ontario looks like,the
financial promised land
to U.K. doctors.
I wonder if the doctor
really wants "freedom
from government and
other interference."
"This would result in
doctors' having to run
hospitals themselves and
the end of funding to
medical schools and
research essential to a
doctor's livelihood.
The payment by doc-
tors of hourly rental on
hospital facilities and
paying royalty fees in
new discoveries and
uncontrolled circulation
of drugs would be of
questionable value.
The letter to your paper
bemoaned the irregular
hours, lack of overtime
pay, coffee breaks, lunch
hours, hospitalization
drug and dental plans,
pension funds, vacation
pay, disability insurance
and unemployment in-
surance.
These factors are
simply the disadvantages
of self-employment. They
could be achieved by
joining the ranks of
salaried doctors.
However, then one must
use "after tax dollars" to
pay for cars, trips,
restaurant meals,
gasoline, insurance, and
other niceties.
Doctor Cauchi's views
strongly suggest that the
fees set by OMA are his
natural entitlement. I'm
not convinced that the
wages determined by any
union in its first offer to
settle labour contracts
are necessarily a fair
price much less a serious
or final position.
Whyare doctors any
different?
In summary, Dr.
..Cauchi may be correct in
his two fundamental.,
views.
However, the reasons
he offers do not strongly
support his case.
To me, doctors are
beginning to sound like
spoiled children who
want to take their ball
home because they can't
be at bat five times.
' Yours truly,
E.W.(Ted) Moffitt
Palm Sunday service held
BY MARIE PARK
DUNGANNON
UNITED CHURCH
Palm Sunday was observ-
ed with special prayers and
the anthem by the choir,
"Blessed Redeemer".
Rev. C. G. Westhaver
spoke on, "The Silences of
Christ", dealing with
Christ's silence in the face of
questioning by the High
Priest, Pilote and Herod on
the night of his betrayal and
capture. He knew communi-
cation had broken down and
words would accomplish
nothing so He remained
silent, "and they marvelled
at his silence".
The Sunday School child -
Dungannon
doings
:11 ;irie R i k cot.). .s1)cfncdf'fl1 .
:599-77 1
ren and teachers received an
African Palm Cross present-
ed by Rev. Westhaver as a
Palm Sunday gift. These
crosses are made in seven
mud villages in the Masasi
area of Tanzania on Africa's
east coast. {They're manufac-
ture from dried palm leaves
helps to -provide community
services such as schools and
public health clinics among a
farming people whose yearly
income is about $55.00 (in
our money).
Wayne Snyder was induct-
ed as an elder in a brief
induction service before the
congregation followed by a
handshake from the minister
and members of the session.
The final confirmation class
was held on Sunday evening
in preparation for joining the
church on Easter Sunday.
The first meeting of the
Bible Study Group was held
on Thursday evening at the
home of Mrs. Gertrude Park.
Invitations to the .U.C.W.
members to attend Easter
Thankoffering meetings have"
been ,extended to Trinity,
Ashfield on April 22, evening
with Rey. Hummel as guest
speaker on China; and to
Auburn on April 22, the
same evening with Donald
Jardine as speaker on the
Retarded Child.
Care
Dear Editor,
There have been two
letters in the Signal Star
about Alexandra Marine
and General Hospital not
giving the patients the
care they should have
and no blankets even
when they have
pneumonia.
1 would like the people
of Goderich to know the
patient mentioned in the
first letter was my
husband. A few days
later, Feb. 28, he died.
Sincerely,
Muriel Stokes,
Goderich.
Thanks
Dear Editor,
On behalf on the Maple
Leaf Chapter, LODE, I
would like to thank all the
captains and canvassers
and the people of
Goderich for contributing
to our very successful
Red Cross Campaign.
Without your continued
support, Red Cross would
founder and people would
suffer needlessly. To date
we have raised $3,640.
Thanks again.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Howe,
Chairman,
Goderich District
Red Cross Campaign.
Ill health'?
Dear Editor:
I received my first
issue ofyour pa f'r since
returning to Banff April
5. Reading Shirley, J.
Keller's ' lead health
article made me think
Dennis Timbrell should
be minister of ill health
and tragedy.
Possitjy Jack Riddell
and Murray Gaunt should
Mare Davis and Timbrell
to defend their policies
health wise in the Ridings
'held by Riddell and
Gaunt. It would be an
interesting by-election.
Alex M. Glen,
Banff, Alberta
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GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 12. 1979—PAGE,5
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