[net.med] Doctor's Salaries

andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (andrea) (03/02/85)

>
>
>	So one thing that makes Doctor's salaries look a lot higher than they
>really are is that they have to make enough money to pay these premiums, not
>to mention an office and staff,etc. Things like these tend to inflate Doctor's
>salaries (and tend to deflate the salaries of Executives who tend to have such
>overhead expenses paid for).

I know several doctors who are dealing with this problem by asking each
patient to sign a form which says (in slightly legalistic but still
understandable terms) that any problems or disagreements between you 
and the doctor will be submitted to third party arbitration, and that
you therefore won't/can't sue.  

One doctor even has a big sign in his waiting room explaining that he
is keeping his costs down by not having malpractice insurance, promising
to do the very best job he knows how to, and asking patients to join
with him in a spirit of cooperation and mutual trust.  

I don't know how it's working, but I sure hope it catches on if it does!

Andrea Frankel, Hewlett-Packard (San Diego Division) (619) 487-4100 x4664
net:  {allegra|ihnp4|decvax|ucbvax}!hplabs!hp-sdd!andrea 

 ...searchlights casting for faults in the clouds of delusion

wws@whuxlm.UUCP (Stoll W William) (03/07/85)

> 
> One doctor even has a big sign in his waiting room explaining that he
> is keeping his costs down by not having malpractice insurance, promising
> to do the very best job he knows how to, and asking patients to join
> with him in a spirit of cooperation and mutual trust.  
> 
> I don't know how it's working, but I sure hope it catches on if it does!
> 
> Andrea Frankel, Hewlett-Packard (San Diego Division) (619) 487-4100 x4664
> net:  {allegra|ihnp4|decvax|ucbvax}!hplabs!hp-sdd!andrea 
> 
My father is a Holistic physician (in Lexington, KY) who has not paid
malpractice insurance in at least 6 years.  He says he gets sued
sometimes, but he hasn't lost yet.  He a general practitioner --
maybe that means he is less likely to make a mistake bad enough
to break him...

Bill Stoll, ..!whuxlm!wws