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From: ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: The medical industry is not regulated?
Message-ID: <3383@alice.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Feb-85 15:03:01 EST
Article-I.D.: alice.3383
Posted: Wed Feb 13 15:03:01 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Feb-85 02:29:12 EST
References: <248@mhuxr.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 23

> = Marcel Simon, >> = me

>> The claim that medical fees are not regulated is also false.  While
>> the government does not set doctors' fees directly (yet), those fees
>> are kept artificially high by government regulations that make it
>> artificially difficult for people to become physicians. 
>> 
>> Restrict supply, and up goes the price.
>> 

> Are you really suggesting that the way to lower health care costs is
> to loosen the standards required to practice medicine?? Considering
> the increase in the rate of malpractice suits, at least some of which
> are actually due to the doctor's incompetence, I find that proposal
> incredible, if not dangerous.

I am not suggesting that the way to lower health care costs is to
deregulate the medical industry -- I am stating it outright.

The number of malpractice suits is clear evidence that the licensing
system does not prevent incompetents from practicing medicine.
In fact, I claim it makes it somewhat easier, because it provides
the gullible with a substitute for reputation.