[GWfan]

The phrasing I used was correct. The medical clinics in my state can only be owned by physicians. Mostly they are owned by 1 or 2 private physicians. They also work in the clinic. The reason for doctors owning the clinics, offices, or whatever you want to call them is obvious.

However, back to my original point, whether private or group owned, these offices (or doctors if you will) do require ID and, or SSI #. If the patients refuse to give it, the docs can refuse treament. This particular procedure has come to be more routine only in the last 5 years or so as far as I know.

I have read your other posts and I agree with most of your opinions. Did not mean to knee jerk on that one point, so forgive me, it has been a long day. I figured out you must be a lawyer by your response. ;)

Merry Christmas.

[Bonaparte]

Your phrasing was no doubt "correct" for the point you were making, but it was not relevant to the example that I was giving, which still holds (and which you've implicitly admitted to in your current post) -- namely, that it is far from routine (and a relatively recent development) for doctors to require any sort of ID when a patient comes to see them in their private offices, especially a cash-paying patient who does not present with health insurance of any kind and is there for treatment of an acute condition.

No offense taken, GWF. I can appreciate the points you've made and I return your Christmas greetings! Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve too! :-)