MD's Disagree On Mandatory Medical Care

Doctors should earn their living by health rather than by sickness," declared Dr. Alan M. Butler last night during his argument in support of President Truman's compulsory health insurance program. He spoke at a discussion sponsored by the AVC in Phillips Brooks House.

Butler, professor of pediatrics and chief of children's medical service at Massachusetts General Hospital, debated against Dr. John F. Conlon, director of medical information of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

Butler held as the crux of his argument that government payment of doctors on the basis of how many patients they serve will tend to make them keep all of them as well as possible, while under the present system of "fee for service" the doctors thrive on sickness.

Colon countered that any such federal payment of doctors would involve undue government control over them.

John U. Monro '35, University Counselor for Veterans, challenged Conlon's objections to federal aid to medical schools. Monro cited the lack of federal interference with colleges despite the large government payments to them under the GI bill, and questioned why payments to medical schools would necessarily entail government control.