Many a patient nearly has a relapse when he gets his doctor's bill. The Los Angeles County Medical Association recently worked out a yardstick of fees for doctors' services, to be applied only to patients making less than $6,000 a year.
The association sent the yardstick to its members, asked them to vote on its adoption. Some suggested fees:
¶ Initial office visit: $12.50, or $7.50 for a minor complaint. Subsequent visits, $5.
¶ Obstetrical delivery with no complications: $175.
¶ Appendectomy: $175
¶ Electrocardiogram: $15.
¶ Gallstone operation: $250.
¶ Tonsillectomy: $75.
¶ Broken wrist: $75.
Most of the fees were below what Los Angeles...
