In these years of medical insurance coverage and MEDICARE (PHIC here in the Phil), medical professional fees are pegged on value units and whatever coverage these insurances pay ( on what protocol I don't know). But we always feel that these payments are not enough for the risk of our decisions when we treat patients. IN fact, we feel that our decision making is priceless.
IN the years before these value units were instituted, we charged patients based on how much risk our profession was exposed in the treatment decision making. I am talking about surgical cases. Most people find these professional fees exorbitant. I have never encountered a patient who said that the professional fees of other surgeons were just enough. My professional fees were often gratis and if ever they pay, the money is just enough for my daily needs.
How much really is the risk of our profession when we do surgery? Foremost we are subject to the satisfaction of the patient. The less we explain, the more likely the patient will sue. And if people around the patient starts to bile the work of the surgeon because somebody they know had this and that though not a single patient is exactly the same as another, the patient will likely to question the work of his surgeon. Even if the outcome is perfect ( to me as a surgeon), the patient will likely find the reason to ridicule the handiwork of his/her surgeon.Not fair of course but not all patients are like this. I had a lot of patients who go home with a mile of smile
IN the years before these value units were instituted, we charged patients based on how much risk our profession was exposed in the treatment decision making. I am talking about surgical cases. Most people find these professional fees exorbitant. I have never encountered a patient who said that the professional fees of other surgeons were just enough. My professional fees were often gratis and if ever they pay, the money is just enough for my daily needs.
How much really is the risk of our profession when we do surgery? Foremost we are subject to the satisfaction of the patient. The less we explain, the more likely the patient will sue. And if people around the patient starts to bile the work of the surgeon because somebody they know had this and that though not a single patient is exactly the same as another, the patient will likely to question the work of his surgeon. Even if the outcome is perfect ( to me as a surgeon), the patient will likely find the reason to ridicule the handiwork of his/her surgeon.Not fair of course but not all patients are like this. I had a lot of patients who go home with a mile of smile
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