‘Let’s Rate Doctors Too’

Wolfe’s article provoked me with interest and curiosity. Yes--how do you pick a good doctor? The worst thing that could happen, possibly, is to be transferred to a new company in Seattle with three children, and suddenly discover you need a doctor in an emergency!

What does one do? First, as a layman, one should never decide what kind of specialist is needed. You should establish your family with a family physician. An experienced and concerned family physician has the qualifications to select an appropriate specialist for one’s particular problem. Membership in an organized medical association, staff privileges at a prestigious hospital and recommendations by satisfied patients are the criteria one should use in selecting your family physician.

The author of the article quoted Dr. Jerry Avorn as stating that public disclosure of physician data does not constitute an invasion of personal privacy--since they couldn’t be identified. This on the face of it seems practical, but, in truth, will serve no function. Hospitals properly qualify their staff physicians with professional records--both past and present. Should they have negative records about a doctor’s performance, he wouldn’t remain on the staff in the first place. The medical community (the article’s author must admit) is already filled with regulations, review groups and regulations on top of regulations! I wish the same could be said for bank officials, insurance agents, electrical contractors, plumbers, etc., etc.

Want a good doctor? Find yourself a personal (family/general) physician who is of good reputation, belongs to prestigious hospital staffs and medical associations and follow his instructions. Forty years of medical practice has taught me this!

FLOYD A. NASSIF MD

Glendale