bmg@mck-csc.UUCP (Bernard M. Gunther) (11/08/85)
> >If this isn't clear, take the case of doctors. Is it cheaper for me to > >investigate a Large number of possible doctors and look into their history > > .... > >Bernie Gunther > > I expect that it will be cheaper for you to buy a report from the > Doctor Investigating Cooperative. Moreover, if they collect lots > of facts about doctors you could probably get a doctor who is > more suited to yourself. Instead of just a ``passed these minimum > standards'' you could also specify that you want your doctor to > pass other standards in courtesy, promptness and compassion which > are not currently on the medical exams... > > Laura Creighton The question still stands. Why don't we have this sort of information presently? The logical group to do might be the AMA, but they're probably out due to possible conflict of interest. There are many doctors who would be openly hostile to this sort of action. I know of many people (myself included) who would like to have access to this sort of information when entering a new area and looking for a doctor. Perhaps I've ignored resources about this [I've done it before <blush-blush>] but I don't know of any good, reliable service which does this currently. What has prevented this resource from forming? Has it been the lack of organizational tools (computers, data bases, etc.), the fact that it would not be profitable (here you might ask why not), negative presure from organizations like the AMA, or something else? This does bring to mind the situation in many a university where students get together and rate the faculty. In many cases, the school administration is not at all pleased with the results and many profs get angry. I have seen cases where the administration has said to tone down the view point of certain reviews or they would not provide financial support for the next issue. This has since made me very dubious about the value of this sort of information since one never finds out if this has occured. I'm sure everyone is familiar with this situation. The question then is: "what in Libertaria is going to be so different?" I'm not convinced that the same forces which act currently are not going to be acting under Libertaria. Perhaps someone can help enlighten me. Bernie Gunther
ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig) (11/12/85)
>> I expect that it will be cheaper for you to buy a report from the >> Doctor Investigating Cooperative. Moreover, if they collect lots >> of facts about doctors you could probably get a doctor who is >> more suited to yourself. Instead of just a ``passed these minimum >> standards'' you could also specify that you want your doctor to >> pass other standards in courtesy, promptness and compassion which >> are not currently on the medical exams... >> >> Laura Creighton > The question still stands. Why don't we have this sort of information > presently? The logical group to do might be the AMA, but they're > probably out due to possible conflict of interest. There are many > doctors who would be openly hostile to this sort of action. I know of > many people (myself included) who would like to have access to this > sort of information when entering a new area and looking for a doctor. > Perhaps I've ignored resources about this [I've done it before <blush-blush>] > but I don't know of any good, reliable service which does this currently. > Bernie Gunther If I went into the business of providing information about the relative merits of physicians, I would expect to be prosecuted and convicted of giving medical advice without a license.
bmg@mck-csc.UUCP (Bernard M. Gunther) (11/15/85)
> > The question still stands. Why don't we have this sort of information > > presently? The logical group to do might be the AMA, but they're > > Bernie Gunther > > If I went into the business of providing information about the > relative merits of physicians, I would expect to be prosecuted > and convicted of giving medical advice without a license. Why do you assume this? You might get prosecuted if you could not back up your claims in your reports, but I would expect your claims/ reviews to be able to stand up to any sort of court case. What medical advice would you be offering? I really don't understand why you feel this way. Bernie Gunther