The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE II • PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY. APRIL 21. I»7< MUSIN' AND MEANDERIN' The Malpractice Situation Consumer Forum I (Continued from Page 1) spoiled by an accident that might have been prevented. Although they must be constantly cautioned of the dangers, childhood istoo short and too precious a time for small people to be expected to always remember. That means it is a responsibility of every driver, from teens through senior citizen, to exercise caution for both KAF MARK ANDERSON NAMEDTO JUVENILE JUSTICE-COUNCIL (Continued from Page 1) Law school. He is president of the Belmont Gardens Com­ munity organization. Anderson's parents, Gunnar and Ruth, live at 3602 W. Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake. Coffee" Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia in the middle of the ninth century. Legend has it that a goatherder saw his goats acting very frisky. He joined them in eating the berries of wild coffee trees and felt frisky as well. 1\rks used to drink ten to twenty cxjps of coffee every day--in cups of which only a thimbleful or two could be swallowed. In 1725, Lon­ don had more than 2,000 coffee houses. (Editor's Note: First in a series of informational stories concerning the medical malpractice situation in Illinois which should concern every citizen. This series is prepared in conjunction with the Illinois State Medical society and the McHenry County Medical society). "There is no single cure for the medical malpractice dilemma confronting Illinois citizens, a complex problem that demands immediate attention by a large number of people," said Dr. William Lareen, president of the McHenry County Medical Society. Dr. Larsen is a quiet, soft-spoken lifetime resident of Woodstock, a man who would prefer to be working in his yard and preparing his garden these Spring days than speaking out on this major matter. But he is so concerned with the implications of malpractice litigation problems-real or implied- that he is speaking out to help put the problem before the public, and to urge contact with their legislators in Springfield soon. "We believe the General Assembly should include enactment of legislation on the malpractice issue this session as an emergency matter. Part of the 1975 malpractice legislation was declared unconstitutional." Why is remedial legislation needed at onqe in the view of Dr. LarsetT and the Illinois State Medical society? He lists four reasons while calling attention to the fact that the number of malpractice suits and high damage awards have forced premiums to increase greatly. "They jeopardize the availability of medical care," he continued, as he listed these threatened results: 1. Further increases in the cost of health care brought about by increased liability insurance premiums (which will be passed on to patients) and widespread use of "defensive medicine" by health care providers. . 2. Potential loss of hundreds of young physicians who will complete their residency training in June-they'11 begin practice in another state with a more favorable malpractice climate. S. Premature retirement of physicians who are having trouble obtaining professional liability insurance at reasonable rates. Many parts of Illinois, including McHenry county, have too few doctors now. 4. Physicians abandoning high-risk specialities in favor of othef areas of medicine because of the high insurance premiums or inability to obtain insurance. Dr. Larsen said the Illinois State Medical society has voted to organize a physician-owned insurance carrier in response to "skyrocketing malpractice premiums" but warned it is not the way to solve that problem. "The physician-owned carrier is nothing more than a lifeboat to provide coverage which otherwise is not available in premiums until comprehensive solutions are developed. Guaranteeing the availability of malpractice insurance through a doctor-formed program doesn't face the root causes of the malpractice problem." Many of the needed reforms may be considered radical by some,but he said the malpractice problem is a critical one that can't be solved without far-reaching efforts. "We need far-reaching reform that will touch on every aspect of the current problem. The reform must involve physicians, hospitals, attorneys, the courts, insurance carriers, state agencies, the public and the legislative and executive branches of our government," he concluded. by Illinois Attorney General William J. Scott A sad story recently ap­ peared in the nation's news media. It concerned the diligent efforts of hundreds of people to collect supermarket computer price codes to aid in the acqusition of kidney dialysis machines for victims of kidney failure. But according to the National Kidney foun­ dation, the plan was a cruel hoax - a charity ripoff per­ petuated by well-intentioned rumor. The N.K.F. said there is no known program whereby the collection of computer price codes -- or used cigarette packs or used tea bags or pull tabs from alumftium cans (other forms of the same hoax) - could result in a trade for a dialysis machine. Charitable frauds are, in my opinion, among the most heinous forms of frauds. Although, according to the N.K.F., the source of this erroneous scheme could not be pinpointed, and although it involved no known loss or misuse of funds, it did involve the scarred emotions and faith of human beings, both those awaiting much needed help and those trying to provide it. The Illinois Attorney General's office, through its Charitable Trusts and Solicitations division, last year was involved in thirty-two lawsuits with charitable organizations and private foundations, including pur­ ported charitable solicitations. Additionally, the division has continued to file lawsuits against professional fund raisers who retain a disproportionate amount of money raised. \ Based on our litigation, it has * been discovered that in cases where certain charitable organizations contract with a professional fund raiser to promote a specific fund raising . event, the fund raiser retains ' from 85 percent to 90 percent of the gross receipts and turns over as little as 10 percent to 15 percent to the charity. In one such case, filed in Lake county, II., it was discovered that 2 percent of the gross receipts went to the sponsoring charitable organization, a downstate police benevolent association. Our litigation consistently seeks to obtain more monies for the charitable organizations. Of interest and most notable of the types of abuses prevalent in direct mail fund raising for public charities discovered by this office is one such case currently pending in Cook County Circuit court. In People vs. National Foundation for the Han­ dicapped and Disabled, an organization based in Chicago which, solicited monies nation­ wide through mass mailings High Savings on Appliances General Electric Automatic Washer WWA5500 • Permanent press cycle • 3 wash-rinse temperature combinations • 3 water level selections • Delicate cycle for fine garments 7 / DDE5300 JBS03 General Electric Electric Range • Easy-clean oven panels • Removable oven door • Oven temperature cycling light • Rotary infinite heat surface unit controls General Electric Automatic Electric Dryer • 3 temperature selections • Permanent press cycle • Up front lint filter -- easy to see, easy to clean • Large loading port *222 General Electric Portable Dishwasher • Use as a portable now -- as a built-in later • 3-level wash action • Soft food disposer *179 General Electric Frost-Free Refrigerator-Freezer General Electric Room Air Conditioner • 5,000 BTUs • 10-position thermostat • Easy mount installation • Weighs only 50 pounds *328 General Electric Bast Cooking Microwave Oven • Great for counter-top cooking • Con­ venient defrost cycle -- handy for frozen foods • The modern way to cook tv din­ ners or convenience foods • Slashes cooking time XB2450 General Electric Black & White TV • 12" diagonal picture • 100% solid state circuitry • Great looking high impact plastic cabinet • Pre-set VHF fine tuning *229 WHE5215WD General Electric Portable Color TV • 10" diagonal picture • Efficient circuit has many solid state components * Built- in antennas • VHF pre-set fine tuning TBF14D *399 • Frost free in refrigerator and freezer sections • Rolls out on wheels • Door shelf storage in refrigerator and freezer e Adjustable canti­ lever shelves GOODYEAR SERVICE STORE 4400 W. RTE. 120 DAILY 8:00 AM-5:30 PM SATURDAY 8:00 AM-5:00 PM McHENRY, ILL PHONE 385-7300 8 Ways to Buy • Cash • Goodyear Revolving Charge • Our Own Customer Credit Plan • Master Charge BankAmericard • American Express Money Card • Carte Blanche • Diners Club allegedly on behalf of han­ dicapped individuals, our office discovered an amazing ac­ tivity. Our litigation has pointed to the five-year fund raising program which raised $1.4 million by expending $1.47 million in costs and expenses. The net effect of this was that little money went for charitable purposes, and the organization 'found itself in debt to the fund raiser in an amount exceeding $125,000. Our litigation seeks to permanently enjoin the fund raiser and the organization from soliciting in Illinois in order to protect members of the public from this questionable activity. Another form of charitable fraud involves so-called "fast buck promoters " Last sum­ mer my office filed three lawsuits against several promoters who sold products allegedly made by handicapped and blind individuals. One such organization, Handicapped Workers, was operated by out- of-state individuals who set up fourteen branch offices in northern Illinois. These offices recruited students to solicit by telephone in a "boiler room" atmosphere. Our litigation proved that a great majority of the sales price was retained by the promoters and that a Shi all percentage ultimately benefitted handicapped per­ sons. These series 6f lawjpts caused other states to likewise institute legal action igiMW such "fast buck promotes!^ J who sell products under | guise of charitable beneficence. ? Attic WastiRf Emtd? i xm--rr--v S 3 You may be wasting up to 30% of your'home's heating and cooling energy if you don't have at least 6 inches of fiber glass insulation on the attic floor, according to the Certain-teed Home Institute. You can determine how much insulation you have using a standard ruler, or you can send to the Certain-teed Home Institute for a free "Measure Up" ruler. Write to P.O. Box 860, Valley Forge, PA 10482. spurgeons Sew Up Savings! of Yards up to ^ off! Regular $1.29-1.59 THIS WEEK ONLY See this colorful group of prints and solids--all 45" wide! Perma- press poly/cotton blends and silky rayon/cotton blends to sew into wonderfully soft and cool shirts, blouses, tops and dresses. Free Lay-A way at Spurgeons STORE HOURS: MON.-FRL: 9-9 SAT. 9-$ SUN. spurgeons Sew lip Savings! Yards and Yards of DoubfeknHs fcoff! Regular $2.99 |99 . L/ K yd. THIS WEEK ONLY Choose from our entire selection of $2.99 solid color doubleknits! Ponte de roma, twills and more ... in the latest fashion colors. All are 60" wide. Hurry in and save! 4400 W. Rte. 120 McHenry, III. 385-4100 IS9 I6S6 9 )fYEAR