NEWSBRIEFS * EN BREF
BC physician makes personal effort to educate patients about costs, fees A Victoria ophthalmologist who was worried that his patients were not aware of the costs involved in running his practice has decided to make a personal effort to educate them. Dr. Bruce Lowden wrote An Essay on Medical Fees and the British Columbia Medical Association News reports that he had 500 copies printed for distribution to
patients. In the essay, reprinted in a recent issue of the News, he outlined the payments he receives for
various medical procedures and then explained the work they require. "Did you know that I bill only $17.50 for an office visit?" he wrote. "That's a little more than [the cost of] a man's haircut, and a little less than [the cost ofl a woman's." He also explained that he has to pay overhead costs and that if the provincial government caps the cost of health care these costs would keep rising while his fees would remain the same. "Is this fair to you, the patient, or to me?" he concluded.
Antismoking physicians appeal for donations to continue campaign An Ottawa-based antismoking organization, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC), has asked members for a tax-deductible $250 donation to help it overcome the loss of a $50 000 donation from a pharmaceutical company. Medical Action, the PSC newsletter, says the contributions would "demonstrate that physicians do care about important public health issues and would show that doctors don't like being pushed around or threatened". The last comment concerned cancellation of a
$50 000 donation by Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. The company had supported PSC with donations totalling $65 000 during 1988 and 1989. It had promised an additional $50 000 in 1990, but Medical Action said it cancelled the donation after PSC refused to halt its campaign to convince drugstores to stop selling tobacco products. PSC says the company gave in to pressure from drugstore chains, but it won't: "Our campaign will continue." Donations can be sent to PSC, Box 4849, Stn. E, Ottawa, Ont. KlS 5Jl.
Brochure aims to increase athletes' awareness of AIDS The Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine (CASM) has published a brochure that it hopes will increase awareness of AIDS among athletes. Barb Wilson, the academy's acting program coordinator, says it has been sent to national and provincial sports organizations and is being distributed to athletes and coaches at all levels. The straightforward brochure answers 14 questions, beginning with "What is AIDS?" and ending with "Am I at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases because of my involvement in sports?" In answer to the latter, CASM says that although sports-related travel may increase oppor360
CAN MED ASSOC J 1990; 142 (4)
tunities for sexual contact and this may increase the chance of infection, especially when sports events are held in high-risk areas of the world [for instance, areas where blood used in transfusions is not tested for AIDS - Ed.], "there is no evidence to suggest that you are at increased risk on the playing field, in the gym, or in the pool". As for becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus during a sporting event, CASM says "it has never happened". Copies of the brochure are available from CASM, 1600 James Naismith Dr., Suite 502, Gloucester, Ont. KIB 5N4.
BC physician makes personal effort to educate patients about costs, fees A Victoria ophthalmologist who was worried that his patients were not aware of the costs involved in running his practice has decided to make a personal effort to educate them. Dr. Bruce Lowden wrote An Essay on Medical Fees and the British Columbia Medical Association News reports that he had 500 copies printed for distribution to
patients. In the essay, reprinted in a recent issue of the News, he outlined the payments he receives for
various medical procedures and then explained the work they require. "Did you know that I bill only $17.50 for an office visit?" he wrote. "That's a little more than [the cost of] a man's haircut, and a little less than [the cost ofl a woman's." He also explained that he has to pay overhead costs and that if the provincial government caps the cost of health care these costs would keep rising while his fees would remain the same. "Is this fair to you, the patient, or to me?" he concluded.
Antismoking physicians appeal for donations to continue campaign An Ottawa-based antismoking organization, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC), has asked members for a tax-deductible $250 donation to help it overcome the loss of a $50 000 donation from a pharmaceutical company. Medical Action, the PSC newsletter, says the contributions would "demonstrate that physicians do care about important public health issues and would show that doctors don't like being pushed around or threatened". The last comment concerned cancellation of a
$50 000 donation by Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. The company had supported PSC with donations totalling $65 000 during 1988 and 1989. It had promised an additional $50 000 in 1990, but Medical Action said it cancelled the donation after PSC refused to halt its campaign to convince drugstores to stop selling tobacco products. PSC says the company gave in to pressure from drugstore chains, but it won't: "Our campaign will continue." Donations can be sent to PSC, Box 4849, Stn. E, Ottawa, Ont. KlS 5Jl.
Brochure aims to increase athletes' awareness of AIDS The Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine (CASM) has published a brochure that it hopes will increase awareness of AIDS among athletes. Barb Wilson, the academy's acting program coordinator, says it has been sent to national and provincial sports organizations and is being distributed to athletes and coaches at all levels. The straightforward brochure answers 14 questions, beginning with "What is AIDS?" and ending with "Am I at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases because of my involvement in sports?" In answer to the latter, CASM says that although sports-related travel may increase oppor360
CAN MED ASSOC J 1990; 142 (4)
tunities for sexual contact and this may increase the chance of infection, especially when sports events are held in high-risk areas of the world [for instance, areas where blood used in transfusions is not tested for AIDS - Ed.], "there is no evidence to suggest that you are at increased risk on the playing field, in the gym, or in the pool". As for becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus during a sporting event, CASM says "it has never happened". Copies of the brochure are available from CASM, 1600 James Naismith Dr., Suite 502, Gloucester, Ont. KIB 5N4.
