BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
March 31, 1950
The meeting was called to order at 8: P.M. by the President, Dr. Hugh Thompson.
Members present were: Hugh C. Thompson, M.D. Harry E. Thompson, M.D.
B.P. Storts, M.D. R.E. Hastings, M.D.
William B. Steen, M.D. H.D. Cogswell, M.D.
Edward M. Hayden, M.D. Donald B. Lewis, M.D.
Harold W. Kohl, M.D.
Dr. Harry Thompson moved that the Minutes of previous meetings be dispensed with. Motion seconded by Dr. Kohl, and carried.
Dr. Hayden gave the report of the Board of Censors as official spokesman for The Chairman, Dr. Smelker. Dr. Smelker has received a letter from Dr. Hill, and it appears that it has been discovered from an attorney that the bills submitted by Dr. Williams and Hill has [ have ] passed beyond the Statute of Limitations which provides that if a statement of account is not submitted to the Court of Claims within a year it is outlawed. The Estate of Mrs. King is therefore not obligated to pay the fee originally asked and subsequently reduced. Dr. Hill's statement is that he was never contacted by the attorney of for the Estate, and that he finally called Dr. Haines who apologized for not having contacted him sooner, but would see what could be done to get some settlement from the Estate. It is the feeling of the Board of Censors that this matter has now resolved itself and it is left only to pass on the matter of the size of the fee, which is considered to be out of line with what is considered normal in this community. The Board of Censors, however does not feel that it is up to them to judge definitely the amount any doctor should charge, and suggests that now this matter might be allowed to drop since no particular harm has resulted from the publicity therefrom.
Dr. Kohl stated that Dr. Hill had had no statement form the attorney, and would have been glad to settle for any amount which was considered reasonable. Dr. Smelker had read a letter from Dr. Williams over the telephone to Dr. Kohl, and Dr. Smelker is inclined to feel that because the thing is actually dead by process of Law, unless litigation is begun by either of the doctors concerned, it should be allowed to go by the board. Dr. Kohl's [sic] stated that his personal feeling is that members of the County Society should be made cognizant of the fact that charging obviously excessive fees is certainly detrimental to the medical profession, and that regardless of the size of an Estate it is hard to justify setting fees which approximate $800.00 per visit.
Dr. Steen felt that no matter how this incident is settled, whatever damage resultant to the medical profession has already been done.
Dr. Hastings felt that it is the additional duty of the Board of Censors to express their attitude in this matter to the doctors involved.
Dr. Kohl thought this would be the duty of the Board of Directors, and any communication should come from that source.
Dr. Hastings thought the two doctors involved should appear before the group and be made to understand how the Society feels about it.
Dr. Lewis suggested that the secretary write them a letter telling them how the Board of Directors feels about it, that their fees were frowned upon as excessive, and that no definite action has been taken, but that they are not happy about it.
Dr. Harry Thompson stated that the Censors have not recommended censorship, either publicly or privately.
Dr. Hayden stated that he thought all three of the Censors feel that the fees charged were too high according to local standards.
