Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 22, 1915, Page 4

Buy A Farm Direct From Owner I have 240 acres of the best land in ed on the “Divide” three miles east of the county locat- Hines and four miles from Blackduck. Twenty-five acres in hay and crops and 60 acres seeded to clover and timothy. | Will Seil It In 40, 80, Or Up To 240 Acre Tracts Will sell for part payment down and balance on easy Have been a resident on same for 22 years | payments. and feel certain that anyone seeking a real bargain : will buy on sight. All I ask is that you fore you buy elsewhere. The state road runs 3-4 mile East of the land from Blackduck to Cass Lake and another road North to the county road. Can drive right up to farm with auto drain to Mississippi on gradual slope and two forties drain to Red Lake. Three There is a fine Consolidated School at Hines. Interested parties are requested to write or call at the BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER OFFICE for further information. forties are still timbered. calls daily for children. look at it be- or team. Four forties Buss W. M. VAIL, Owner R R HK KKK KKK KK KKK * WHAT IS FEE-SPLITTING? * KRR KKK KKK KHKKKKR x Dr. W. A. Evans here gives plain facts about fee-splitting among physicians and surgeons. He explains why the practice is the buying and selling of pa- tients. Also why the practice leads to second or third rate medical service. FLAVOR MGST ECONOMICAL (By special permission of the Chicago Daily Tribune.) “This company retains as counsel attorneys causing trusts to be com- mitted to its care.” “This institution offers and invites co-operation with lawyers by retain- ing their services in connection with all matters of trust they commit to its care.” The above advertisements for years have appeared regularly in the ad- vertising section of the Chicago Law- yers’ Directory. The concerns ad- vertising have their own lawyers, men especially trained in the work of caring for - estates. The lawyer bringing the business to them and for it receiving a commission will not do any work except it be such work as is ordinarily delegated to clerks and minor assistants. this is fee-splitting. If a piece of real estate is sold, the probability is that two brokerage fees will be paid—one to a selling broker and another to a buying brok- er. Very often.;ii happens that the sale is made direct, and the brokers have no part in the transaction. They get their fees just the same. If a Chicago man, owning an auto: mobile made by a Buffalo firm main- taining an agency salesroom and shop in Chicago, sends his machine to the Buffalo plant for repairs without any conference with the Chicago agency, the Chicago agency will gets its brokerage on the bill. These are all illustrations of fee- splitting. The legal right of the broker to his fee, even when he had no direct right in the transaction, has been established by scores of court decisions. Let us say, then, that fee-splitting is established both by custom and by law. This being true, is fee-splitting among medical men established by law or by custom, and, also, is it legal or moral, or both In a word, Institute of Music Anne Hughes Margaret Daugherty Director Associate Director Met. Music Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn. Normal Training School for Music Supervisors, Pianists and Singers. One year course leading to Certificate; Two year course leading to Diplo- ma, and State Certificate. Artists course in Piano and Theory. Pupils may enter at any time. Stewart’s Grocery “Quality Grocer” Lt Fruit for the sick room, or for the ' table Grape Fruit Valencia Oranges Tokay Grapes Concord Grapes Jonathan Apples Table Pears Nice Fat Ister Slid Salt Herring Norway Gaffelbitar Fresh Pultost Cheese Strain Honey, Comb Honey o | legal and moral? §|splitting law for several years. Wisconsin has had an anti-fee- As the old law proved unavailable, a new one has recently been placed on the statute books. Among other states having laws against fee-splitting are Ohio and Iowa. I do not know that the legali- ty of any of these laws has been pa: ed upon by a supreme court. That is probably due to the fact that no great effort has been made to enforce y [them. At the present time we can say that that in some states fee- splitting by medical men is illegal. In no state is it specifically legal. The American College of Surgeons, the American Medical association and the various state and local medical societies have condemned fee-split- ting by formal vote. It is evident that fee-splitting among medjcal men is not the custom, and that such of it as is done is condemned by medical organizations. It is practiced by organizations. It is practiced - by only a small proportion of the oper- ators, and they do not of high stand- ing. The proportion of family phys- icians who peddle their patients is even smaller still. Should fee-splitting among doctors be illegal and ° condemned, while among lawyers and business men it is' approved by law, custom and pub- lic opinion? If so, why so? An- other question: ~Why is it discussed in this column? Fee-splitting _among physicians should not be allowed to become the custom. Why? Because of the abuses to which it leads. How is it worked? The answer to this question shows some of the possibilities for abuse. A man con- sults a physician. The physician ex- amines him and tells him he needs an operation. The sick man asks who is to do the operation. If the fee- splitter ‘has an understanding with some one as to his commission, he suggests the man. The probability is that he will say to the patient, I expect to be running into the city about that time. I will take you in.” ‘When they reach the city, they see the operator together. The pa- tient may be told that the home doc- tor is to assist at the operation. In the worst cases'of this group, the home doctor arranges the amount » of the fee, collects it, and pays the operator, relieving the patient of all those details. In some, the operator collects, saying nothing to the pa- tieni about any payment to the phys- ician who came with him. The pa- tient can be certain that the family physician does not assist at the op- eration. An operating room organi- zation arranges that each assistant shall have his work cut out for him. Team work is a necessity. Each as- sistant must know how to anticipate the next move of the operator. If an outside physician is allowed on the operating floor hie may be permit- ted to put on a gown and stand close by, but he must not touch any in- strument. The statement that the physician is paid for assisting cannot be substantiated. If the physician has not established connections with fee-splitters and wishes to get a portion of the fee, he may tell his patient that he will find out who is the best man to operate on him. Meanwhile, he may write S. T. STEWART PROPRIETOR : Phone 206 207 4th St for bids. The physician at home gen- erally has a suspicion as to which operators can safely be approached on the’ proposition of splitting a fee. On the other side, operators in search of business sometimes send out letters in which proposals for fee-splitting are made. Within cer- tain limitations, the fee-splitting op- erators know to whom, among the '] non-.ap'eratingphy»siqians, it is’ safe to-send such'a proposal. . . - - . When a.patient asks his physician. to select an operator for him, he has a right to expect that the physician More _than ‘that, he should expect the name of an’ operator who -suits the circum- stances of his' case best. If his physician is a fee-splitted, what he gets is the name of the:fee-splitting operator with ~whim the physician has been able to make satisfactory terms. . g Should the patient learn the facts and ask the fee-splitting physician to justify himself, the physician would man. explain that he was underpaid; that |f§ the operator was overpaid, and that he had a right to a sufficient portion | His answer | ¥ of the fee to even up. might satisfy a person easily satis- fied. Furthermore, he “would claim that the operator selected was com- Detent. appears sound, and it no doubt, would satisfy a person easily satisfied. But let us dig a little deeper and see if the facts disclosed by the dig- ging help the fee-splitter. The im- mediate answer to the fee-splitter is this: If fee-splitting is a justifable trahsaction, then let those who prac- tice it come right out in the open. Let the physician concerned tell the patient that the fee is to be split and the basis on which it is split. Theoretically, this is- a, partial remedy, but, practically, it fails, be- cause nobody will do it, or practic- ally nobody.” An. open confesses his incompetence. What happens under the present method? split fees. petent and they get, and will get, the business which comes to them on a basis ‘of merit. The operators who split fees are second and third grade operators. being disposed of by fee-splitters, among fee-splitters, may be certain best among the second or third grade men.” He can be certain that he never has a chance to get the services of any high grade man, of any man good enough to get business on his merit alone. The first coil, then, Mr. Patient, is that you get at best a second grade man, though you pay the price of first grade service. Anoperation is hot a light matter. Operations are to be avoided where it is good judgment to avoid them. At best they are the lesser of evils. With the above statement in mind, what is your answer to the follow- ing questions? If ‘physicians are bartering pa- tients among fee-splitters as a com- mereial transaction, will not unnec- essary “operations” be the inevitable result? 3 If a physician diagnoses an infect- ed appendix and sends the patient Lo a fee-splitter, is it not possible that the diagnosis will be confirmed, re- gardless of the. condition found, and an operation done? To summarize: will give ’him the name of a 'thor- |a ) dughly capable To select any other would (/8 be bad business policy. This answer |} fee-splitter |§ The very competent operators do not |§ They know they are com- | § Thérefore, a patient who | that the best he can get is one of the |§ white, cream and Non any figure. for‘ladies and chi made a complete ! The % Bemidiji, New Things At The Bazaar Store Curtains in Scrim, Voile and Marquisette; colors yard in same cloths and colors. Table linens---25 pieces beautiful patterns, nap- kins to match, per yard 75¢ to $2.50 Corsets---“The Warner”, a variety of styles to fit - 80¢ to $5.00 Underwear---“The Athena” for women and children perfect fitting, wool and cotton, a complete line. Blankets---in wool and cotton. can get-what you want at. Curtains ecru, Also curtain goods by the Table Linens Corsets . e better. Prices moderate Underwear Blankets Flannelette gowns ldren. In fact everything that goesto line of seasonable merchandise. You Bazaar Store Minnesota The results of fee-splitting are several. The patient of the fee- splitter pays more for the service than the operator in the case is ac- customed to receiving. The fee col- lected for like service must satisfy two men, the operator and the at- tending physician, as well as pay the expenses of the unnecessary attend- ance of the physician on the trip to town. As a class, he is operated on. by a perience, by a second rate man, un-|gplitter. That hurts his standing. able to get business on an open, e ; Istraightforward, merit basis. He is| . m2kes people suspicious of him, ’man of little training and small ex-|In time he becomes known as a fee- in danger of being operated on need- | °f s opinions and advice. Accept- iessly, with danger to his life and |ing or’paying sécret commissions re- ‘hefin.h. 1acts on the moral and mental tone The man who is cared for by the|Cf the Physician. Acknowledging to fee-splitters does not get a fair deal, | Mimself that he gets business because That is a part of the reascn for this | e Pays for it, he will not work as hard to perfect himself, and to keep erticle. No physician can practice fee-splitting without degenerating‘.l (Continued from Page 4.) - Troppman’s Department Store The Big Store With The Little Prices Women’s Suits of the Finer Sort at ‘Greatly Reduced Prices These models are expertly tailored in the most fashionable fabrics of the seuson. Some. are very effectively trimmed with fur. Women’s and Misses’ Coats Models appropriate for street afternoon and motor- ing in Novelty Mixtures, Velour Cloth, Shark Skin Ve- lour and Plush, a notably fine collection. Prices From $5.00 to $35.00 Splendid Showing of Furs just Arrived - All the new shapes in Muffs and Scarts made from" selected skins of Mink, Opossum, Skunk, Fox, River Mink, Manchurian Coney. OUTING FLANNEL 8 1-2¢ A YARD Extra Special for one week beginning’ Saturday, 100 bolts extra heavy outing flannel. . would be a good buy at 12 1-2¢, but while it lasts we give you the benefit of an early purchase. -assortment of both light and dark patterns as well as white. This grade Splendid 1 pound tall cans salm on.. Meat and Groéery Specials for one week beginning Saturday + -8 bars White Flyer Laundry Soap, 8 6-ounce cans Fox River milk. . Fresh Persian Dates, per package. Pork link sausage, per pound.. Beef roast, per pound. Pork roast, per pound. Weiners, per pound pound.................12 1-2¢ .15¢ A car 3 Solid Cars of Fruit Direct From the Growers to Ariive in a Fow Days. 1 car Extra Fancy Concord grapes, per basket only........ / ar Extra Fancy Canning Pears, per bushel basket only. 1 car Extra Fancy Winter Apples, per bushel basket only.... e PO