THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409090012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
I read with interest that previous lawyers for the man who sued to keep his $9 million lottery prize would get $850,000 for 1,000 hours of work. Also interesting was the recent revelation that the salary of President Clinton's lawyer - $400 an hour - has forced him to seek voluntary donations.
Recently you printed a column by Bob Herbert of The New York Times portraying physicians as greedy, uncaring slobs who will stop at nothing to limit malpractice claims by patients. Among quoted ``experts'' was a lawyer.
I do not know of physicians making $850 or even $400 an hour for all the care they deliver to patients; I do know of physicians happy to get 40 percent of what they charge for providing care. Doctors getting $400 an hour or above are generally the best in their field.
Contrary to popular belief, not all doctors own expensive cars or live in mansions. Just ask my neighbors in my apartment complex.
JAMES J. MENSCHING, D.O.
Virginia Beach, Sept. 3, 1994 by CNB