April

Thank you, Dr Masterson, for your comment about the statement from my article: “Physicians’ fees have changed in the last half century too. The fee to perform an appendectomy for a perforated appendix was $150 in 1957, while today’s fee is $495.”

My point was to show that physicians’ fees have changed since 1957—not necessarily for better, worse, or indexed to inflation. In fact, if a $150 fee in 1957 were indexed to inflation, the fee would have been $495 in 1981! Your point is well taken.
—Gabrielle Lynch-Staunton, BFA, BEd

Ms Lynch-Staunton’s goal in showing the cost of an appendectomy in 1957 vs today isn’t clear [BCMJ 2015;57:28-29]. If it is showing the growth in fees over the intervening time the mark is sorely missed.

As the professional organization that represents more than half of all physicians in BC, the British Columbia College of Family Physicians (BCCFP) is pleased to support the article authored by Dr Cathy Clelland published in the January/February issue of the journal [Building the business case for allied health care professionals in family physician practices in British Columbia] (BCMJ 2015;57:15-17).

It is gladdening to read DRR’s editorial (BCMJ 2015;57:5) describing his satisfactory progress from a serious bicycle accident. Within his editorial, DRR refers obliquely to what, elsewhere, has been described as the green poultice.

Dr Boggie raises some good points. I too would like to see a greater number of members voting in our elections. At the same time, the number of members who voted in the Physician Master Agreement referendum was the second highest on record, exceeded only by the turnout for the contentious 2002 agreement. Dr Boggie interprets the response rate as apathy. But we don’t really know for certain. It could be that members are distracted by workload, or they may have confidence that the proposed agreement is a good one and would be ratified.