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OPINION

Letters to the Editor - Aug. 20, 2007

Antitrust case reveals what government thinks of physicians - Focus on numbers is a misleading approach on doctor discipline

Antitrust case reveals what government thinks of physicians

Regarding "Refusal of new Medicaid patients spurs antitrust suit" (AMNews, July 23/30):

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, in her antitrust case against two clinics that are declining to accept new Medicaid patients, has laid bare the naked power-lust of those who use nebulous antitrust laws to persecute individuals for making business decisions that the government deems a violation of its arbitrary dictates.

This case illustrates that the government views physicians fundamentally as slaves, subject to compulsion when they act in "collusion" to protest the bureaucratic morass of Medicaid.

Compulsion of physicians toaccept Medicaid (or face stiff penalties) is only the beginning of the nightmare that awaits this nationif it embarks on any single-payer national health care plan -- a fact not mentioned by the presidential candidates who advocate for this dangerous idea.

--Amesh Adalja, MD, Butler, Pa.

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Focus on numbers is a misleading approach on doctor discipline

Regarding "Public Citizen issues annual med board rankings" (AMNews, July 9): The more disciplinary actions that a state's medical board takes against physicians, the better job that board is doing of protecting the public.

What kind of logic is this?

This misdirected and dangerously misleading approach not only is wrong, but it unnecessarily spreads fear among members of the public who are already bombarded by negative comments about medicine.

Doctors practice in a fishbowl and bad doctors are quickly found out. A profession overregulated, and overcriticized, cannot long endure. The Public Citizen group would do better directing its efforts at promoting universal health care coverage.

--Edward J. Volpintesta, MD, Bethel, Conn.

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