Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site alice.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!alice!ark 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.