The Clinical Review (Volume 18) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Excerpt: ... Chronicle anb Comment. It is stated that the largest fee ever received by a member of the medical profession was paid to a Dr. Dimsdale, in 1762, for inoculating Catherine II, empress of Russia. The immediate sum granted was $50,000, with an allowance of $10,000 for travelling expenses. In addition a life pension of $1,000 a year was allowed, together with "the title of Baron, the rank of a Councillor of State, and the office of Physicianin-Ordinary to the Empress." Perhaps the largest obstetrical fee ever paid, so far as known, was received by Dubois for assisting a king of Rome into the world. The amount is mentioned at $20,000. A New York doctor bitterly complains because of a legal decision rendered against him in court in a case where he brought action against the employers of a servant for services to such servant upon the verbal order of the employers. While it does seem hard to suffer the loss of fees in a case of the kind, and where careful attention was given upon order (verbal), and therefore every reasonable prospect to expect due payment; at the same time it must be pointed out, as it has been by legal opinion time and again, that word of mouth does not constitute a binding contract, in the eyes of the law, in a matter of this kind. A legal contract calling for the payment of money in return for certain specified services to one or another party, must be in writing and duly. witnessed; and while this is not customary in a direct transaction as applied to the practice of medicine, it becomes necessary where a corporation or an individual undertakes to pay, or promises to pay, for the services a doctor may render to an employee or one dependent upon said corporation or individual. And in the absence of a contract in writing a physician is more than liable to lose any suit...