We require attorneys to take cases from the indigent defenders offices at the rate they

[RB TexLa]

set when there is too much work for those working at the indigent offices, why not the same for doctors and medicare? You set the rate for your private patients, the government sets the rate for the public patients. If there aren't enough doctors taking the work the others are forced to take it at the rate set, just like we do with lawyers.

[nemo137]

1. There's a 6th Amendment right to Counsel

and no corresponding right to medical care. That's the main problem I could see to implementing that.

[rzemanfl]

2. We get lousy medical care from doctors who charge an arm and

a leg, imagine the care you'd get if you were forced on them as patient they knew they were losing money on. It's the same way with a lot of court appointed attorneys, by the way.

[SwampG8r]

3. as the husband of a nurse practitioner specializing

in womens medicine and the operator of her own clinic i have a question

how much charity or low income outreach does a lawyer do?if not prompted by law?
my wife and every member of the medical community i have ever met give of themselves now
without a court order
without a judge standing over them
they give to free clinics and the guatamalan center
doctors without borders
public schools and health departments
please dont try to paint an uncaring face on the american medical community
the problems with "health care " are almost all in access being limited by insurers
now if you want to propose that insurance salesmen get out and do some public good i can get behind that
but the medical folks i know are already out there
every day
making the differences in peoples lives

[RB TexLa]

4. Attorneys give pro bono work I don't know why you think they don't.

And I for one am very happy my insurance company stands up for the policyholders against overbilling, overtesting and straight theft from doctors.