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Gary L. Brown, MD
Mount Vernon, Wash

JAMA. 1993;270(23):2805.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—I had to write a response to the article concerning mandatory national health service by Dr Johns.¹

Ideas concerning future medical delivery systems have been expressed well by authors of various articles in JAMA over the last few years. I am beginning to tire of articles emphatically pushing the "right" to medical care, the fact that "universal access" will solve all our medical problems, and the "fact" that specialists are always high-priced, do inappropriate procedures, and are now concerned about their financial bottom line. Now, to paraphrase Johns, "public service physicians would insure society's goal of competent, compassionate, and dedicated physicians."

I have spent time in Haiti, Romania, and Mexico donating medical time, equipment, and service. In all situations I've found that I have most enjoyed giving medical care when my efforts have been received with gratitude, even when all I had to offer was compassion. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Footnotes
Edited by Drummond Rennie, MD, Deputy Editor (West), and Margaret A. Winker, MD, Senior Editor.

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