DEAR ABBY: About the letter from the physician who complained because he had $154,000 on the books:
While I'm sure that letter reflects the situation many physicians are in, there are plenty of doctors who drive brand-new Cadillacs, Lincoln Continentals, Mercedes, Lexus, BMWs, etc. Their wives do not work, they send their children to private schools, and they vacation in Europe and the Far East every year.My husband was laid off two years ago and I am the only person working in my family. We are heavily in debt and I am an insulin-dependent diabetic. Because I am insured by an out-of-state insurance company, my physician asks to be paid in full for every visit. He charges $100 a visit, so I do not see him unless I'm in serious trouble.
I'm sorry that physicians have a small fortune on the books, but they should be a little more understanding with patients who have fallen on hard times. A sick person often needs medical attention whether he's in a position to pay immediately or not. And a dead patient can't pay a doctor at all.
The Hippocratic Oath states: "First, do no harm." It doesn't specify whether the harm is mental or physical. And the way the economy is today, we all have to tighten our belts and help each other. - BARBARA B. IN MIRAMAR, FLA.
DEAR BARBARA: Well said. Let us hope that the well-heeled doctors who read this heed this. And as for those who are lacking in compassion, "Physician, heal thyself!"
DEAR ABBY: I am deeply disturbed over a new product being distributed for children. They are called "killer cards" - similar to baseball cards. However, instead of trading heroes, the kids trade cards with pictures of Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy and "Son of Sam." These cards have comic book likenesses of infamous murderers!
Abby, what are these people thinking? How can people manufacture such terrible cards to sell to young children? And how about the people who sell them? Don't they have children of their own? What message are they sending to our children? "Kill someone, and get your face on a trading card!" We have enough to contend with, such as drugs, suicide and keeping our children and ourselves safe from these psychopaths they are trying to immortalize.
Who can I contact to get this garbage banned? - LOVES CHILDREN, CLIFTON, N.J.
DEAR LOVES CHILDREN: The best way to "ban" such garbage is simply to refuse to patronize the store that sells it.
DEAR ABBY: I have just returned from a trip to Panama and was shocked to see a wedding invitation that included a small card with the following message:
"Suggestion: Your cash gift (or check) will be appreciated. Our checking account at Citibank is No. ( )."
Abby, where we live (New York), we sometimes give checks as wedding gifts, but never have we seen an invitation to a wedding with a request for money.
I have promised my friends in Panama that I would write to you and find out how you felt about it. Personally, I think it is in the worst possible taste. What do you think? - MIRIAM FROM NEW YORK
DEAR MIRIAM: You may tell your friends that Abby's opinion is the same as yours.
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