Opinion
Pay-for-performance is fine for factories, wrong for medicine
LETTER — Posted Jan. 1, 2007
Regarding "Pay-for-performance benefits are unproven, panel says" (Article, Nov. 27, 2006): On principle, pay-for-performance has no place in medicine. Physicians should not need financial incentives and bonuses to do a good job. This concept may make sense when making toasters and radios but is out of place when talking about doctors and patients. It undermines our integrity, and for those physicians who are unduly financially motivated, it provides a temptation to rationalize their actions when those actions boost their bonuses or whatever other reward is anticipated.
This sends the wrong message to our patients. Worse, it gives trial lawyers a very strong weapon. There will soon be malpractice suits based on pay-for-performance where doctors' treatments will be questioned because of their not doing a test or getting a consultation, in order to increase their year-end bonuses.
Pay-for-performance is bad on principle, and no amount of rationalization will make it right.
Edward J. Volpintesta MD, Bethel, Conn.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/01/01/edlt0101.htm.
