I can remember when the town of Lisbon had at least three or four doctors and it would cost $9 a visit in town, and they made house calls, too.

We even had a midwife on Vining Street. I was born there, as were a lot of us. The population was nearly 5,000.

Now, we have no midwives, a population nearly 10,000, and a doctors’ building in Lisbon Center. No house calls, and we pay nearly $200 per visit if we have no coverage.

Our “family practice” is joining up with the Horton Place in Topsham soon. Why not get Mt. Mary’s Hospital here instead?

Now, if a person should get hurt they’ll have to take a $1,500 ambulance to take them to a doctor for something that doesn’t require one in the first place, because they don’t drive any longer.

Is this progress?

Do no harm, they used to say.

Or should we make doctors do house calls once again, perhaps, under state law?

Richard J. Nadeau, Lisbon Falls

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