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Jeffrey Algazy; Mark Lachs, MD, MPH

Arch Intern Med. 1994;154(3):257-261.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

LITERALLY interpreted, the words professional courtesy would seem to convey something about the tenor of physician-physician interactions. Colloquially, however, it has come to have a specific economic meaning. In extending professional courtesy, a physician caring for a physician-patient or family members of a physician-patient waives all or part of the charges that would normally be incurred in the rendering of such services. Surveys conducted in the United States as recently as 1990 have found that over 90% of physicians offer some form of fee reduction to their colleagues.^1-5 Still, many physician-observers believe that professional courtesy is disappearing.^6-8

Our interest in this subject was prompted by a physician's letter to the editor in response to a previous article that examined the practice of copayment waiver, or forgiving that portion of a patient's bill not covered by insurance.⁹ He observed that while physician-patients were probably more able to afford . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Yale University School of Medicine 333 Cedar St, TMP-B15 New Haven, CT 06510

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