Physicians’ Fees
In the Court of Exchequer in January, 1863, in an action brought by a physician to recover 21l. for services rendered to a patient, it was contended that as there was no special promise to pay, the plaintiff could not recover. Such was the state of the law formerly, physicians being presumed to attend for an honorarium; but an Act was passed to enable registered physicians and surgeons to recover their reasonable charges, subject to such bye-laws as might be passed by the College of Physicians. The latter body, however, it appears, have thwarted the intention of the Legislature by enacting that physicians shall not recover, even though a contract existed; the object, it seems, being to make the payment of physicians’ fees immediate, and to discourage credit. A verdict was found for the plaintiff, leave being granted to move the Court above on the construction of the Medical Act.
Attention has been called to the careless manner in which consulting physicians write their prescriptions; more especially as regards the dose, the drachm often resembling the ounce, and the writing so generally blotted and crabbed that the dispensers are often obliged to make guesses, with very little light to guide them to a right conclusion. The blame, whenever a mistake occurs, is always attached to the chemist or assistant, without considering the anxiety and trouble they have in deciphering writing worse than falls to the lot of a post-office master. The public have often ridiculed the style of physicians’ prescriptions, but will be unable to joke when a mistake more serious than usual occurs.