Indigent Medical Care as a Gift

Thank you for publishing the letter (“Uram Among few Speaking Up for Medically Indigent,” Sept. 9) from Dr. Arthur D. Silk of Garden Grove.

Dr. Silk eloquently described the problem which we have here in Orange County. He also went into some detail concerning the efforts of numerous individuals, especially those of Mr. Thomas Uram.

The Times should survey county hospitals and physicians to determine the amount of indigent medical services that are being provided at no charge to the individuals and/or to the county.

It is the medical profession that is underwriting the care of the indigent without the benefits of tax credits or any other tax deductions. This is purely a loss of income, which may be mentally gratifying to the care provider but can be a financial disaster if a hospital or physician provides enough non-income care.

An analogy would be how many people would go to work from 8 to 5 if they knew that that day they would not get paid.

DR. FRANK L. AMATO

Fullerton