‘New Danger to Medicare System

There is the story about the farmer who figured out that he would save a lot of money if he could train his horse gradually to eat less and less each day. Unfortunately, just when the food ration got down to zero the poor animal died, thus ruining the experiment.

This same sort of reasoning prevails in Sacramento, where Gov. George Deukmejian is progressively trimming the Medi-Cal budget for essential health care for the poor. Perhaps it is the governor’s intent that, once they are denied enough health care, the poor also will simply go away. And he’s probably right.

SANFORD A. MARCUS MD

Oakland

Marcus is president of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists.