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University Daily Kansan
Monday, Nov. 5, 1962
Socialized Medicine Discussed By Panel
Two doctors and an Englishman discussed socialized medicine in the United States and Great Britain during an International Club panel discussion Friday.
Panelists were Dr. Russel Frink, Lawrence physician, L. H. C. Agnew, professor of medical history, and David Nove, special students from London, England.
Dr. Frink:
Views ranged from condemnation of socialized medicine as bureaucratic to wholehearted approval of the system based on a financial need.
"There are those who want better medical care and are willing to pay for it."
"I favor anything that makes for cheaper medicine without compromising quality."
PROF. AGNEW;
"Any party that tried to do away with socialized medicine in England would be cutting its own political throat."
Nove:
Dr. Frink maintained that socialized medicine would encourage "an unwieldy bureaucratic superstate." Nove said the result in England was a more unrestrained living atmosphere.
"If a man becomes seriously ill, he doesn't have to worry about medical bills."
Dr. Frink foresaw waves of hypochondriacs beseigning harried doctors long waiting lines at hospitals and a serious shortage of medical students.
NOVE DESCRIBED the results or socialized medicine in England as more than satisfactory. He cited these points:
- Doctors are allowed a maximum of 3,500 patients, he said. Most have approximately 2,500.
- Doctors can practice publicly for the National Health Service and privately. Approximately two per cent of the country is privately insured.
- Patients have a choice of doctors and hospitals within their area. In an area of 30,000 Nove said he had a choice of 10 doctors and three hospitals.
- Patients may switch doctors in their area by registering with a new doctor.
- Doctors with the maximum number of patients on their list have the right to refuse to treat a patient.
"I'm not worried about the very rich or the very poor." Prof. Agnew said, pointing to high medical costs in the United States.
"I'm worried about the middle class who are being bled of their savings. With their typical middle class pride they keep paying as long as their savings last," he said.
Prof. Agnew questioned the medical profession's distain of being a servant of the state and termed them grossly overpaid.
"Teachers are servants of the state," he said, "and with a possible income of $20-30,000 a year debts incurred in college are soon paid off."
He said medical schools had accepted $247 million in government aid.
The medical profession should be a calling and not a means to the fast buck, he added.
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