‘Concierge service’ raises a red flag

Dear Dr. Roach: I used a local orthopedic surgeon to replace my knee. He said my hip was bone on bone, and treated it with cortisone shots, which did not help. I finally had an appointment to talk about a hip replacement, and the first available surgery date was seven months away. I signed up for that date.

The nurse then gave me a paper stating the doctor was introducing a concierge service. This included an expedited surgery date (four weeks away) and on-time appointments (it was standard to wait over an hour). The cost for this service was $5,000.

I paid the fee and got the earlier surgery date.

I know I was not forced into this surgery, but I feel taken by my doctor. What do you think?

G.L.

Answer: I believe this is unethical behavior.

Physicians have a duty to their patients and to society in exchange for the many benefits that society gives physicians. Our patients’ needs are expected to come before our own.

In the case of the surgeon, what he is doing is unbelievable — he has created a two-tiered system, where the people who do not pay the concierge fee are getting, in my opinion, substandard care. While waiting an hour isn’t unheard of, it’s clear he is able to see people on time if he chooses to. Further, waiting seven months for a surgery date is not appropriate for someone with severe disease when, again, he is able to perform surgery within four weeks. It’s not that paying the concierge fee gives additional services (which is sometimes ethical); it’s that it is the only way to get appropriate care. It is discriminatory to those who cannot pay, which is fundamentally unethical.

His lack of transparency at the beginning of the encounter (about a twotiered system) and his use of a nurse to sell you on this both are abhorrent to me. I wonder about the legality.

It is absolutely possible to have an ethical concierge practice. Concierge physicians can find ways of fulfilling their obligations to take care of people regardless of their ability to pay and to practice nondiscriminatory care.

This doctor is not doing so.