A SURGEON'S FEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 194, 15 August 1907, Page 2

A SURGEON'S FEE.

Dr. Rowland Aiekin (Mr. McVeagh.) Ened Charles Grey (Mr. McGregor for i£so for professional services. The defendant paid £20 into Court in satisfaction of the claim, but plaintiff did not accept -Sns. Plaintiff stated that the charge, was a fair and reasonable one, iiis charge being 5/ per visit when two visits were made per day, and 7/6 when one daily visit was made.

By Mr. McGregor: Five shillings per visit was an absolute minimum as a medical man's charge. A doctor might, if he chose, charge a lump <6um at the end of a case. He had submitted onother account for 25 guineas tfor an operation. Of this Dr. Parkes, ormed the operation, received 10 guineas and the anaesthetist 4 guineas; •who assisted at the operation, receiving 11 guineas.

Mr. McGregor: Then ycja who assisted got more tahn the doctor who the operation ?

Witness*: It was my case, and that is the medical custom. He had not said to Mr. Grey he would not charge 5/ a visit, because it -was always his intention to charge that amount. He did not say his account at the end of May was about £15. He was asked to send in Ms account at that time, but did not send it in till June, when lie left the ease. He considered his charge of three guineas for the giving of chloroform in order to lance a boil -was moderate, the scale for minor operations varying from one guinea to five.

Dγ. McKellar, caUed by Mr. MeVeagh, said that in ordinary cases in Auckland the scale of charges in ordinary visits in the course of attendance varied from 5/

to 10/6, the minimum being the former fee. He thought the charge of three guineas fox lancing a carbuncle under chloroform was large, but not exorbitant. If another doctor were called in to administer chloroform tb.? TniTirmnra fee •would be a guinea.

(Proceeding.)