The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Bastiat Institute

198
Chapter 33 • Doctrinaire
judgement of ability. Patients stand duty in the wait line, ranked by
our judgement of need. The two lines must one day match, so we
cannot afford to let patients make costly errors with the people’s
money.”
A moan of pain resounded through the room and more blood
squirted into a basin on the fl oor. Attendants relayed commands.
The attending surgeon received more instruments and sponges.
A concerned look clouded the doctor’s face as she stood next to
Jonathan. “I feel his pain,” she murmured.
“How do you get a licence,” asked Jonathan, “so that you can
make these life and death decisions for people?”
“It takes many, many years of preparation. One must undertake
orthodox medical schooling, pass numerous tests. As authorized by
our friends in the Council of Lords, we closed one of the two medical
schools of Corrumpo in order to maintain high orthodox standards.
Years of scholarly research and hallowed traditions provide these
standards. The Benevolent Protective Guild of Orthodox Medicine
awards licences and assures practitioners of remuneration proper to
their standing in society.”
“High pay?” said Jonathan.
“That’s all for now.” The doctor gave an impatient look and
ushered Jonathan out. But Jonathan refused to stop asking questions.
“How do you know which doctor is good and which is bad?”
“There’s no such thing as a bad doctor,” she asserted. “Licensed
doctors are all equally qualifi ed. Of course there are rumours – we
can’t stop gossip about good and bad. But our control over the
reports assures that any such gossip is baseless.”
Quick as a fl ash she pushed him out the back door and slammed
it with a bolt.