"OUTLAWED" DOCTORS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9488, 30 December 1918, Page 7

"OUTLAWED" DOCTORS.

DAMAGES AGAINST B.M.A

Mr Justice MaeCardie in. the King's Bench Division awni-ded damages to three Coventry doctors., who, he held, had been boycotted, libelled, and Slandered by the British Medical: Association.

Giving judgment, he said Uiat in 1907 the medical staff of the .Coventry Provident Dispensai-y resigned. Dr. A. St. Lawrence Burke then joined the staff. It was alleged that the dispensary had no rales about'the maximum wages of its patients, and took members at an unnecessarily low rate oi: subscription, and 'Dr. Bui'ke was boycotted by the members of the British Medical Association. Dr. E. G. Pratt, Dr. D. Holmes, and Dr. C. 8.. Gainis (sintoe dead) afterwards joined the stafY and were also boycotted. The bitterness of the boycotting campaign, Mr Justice MaeCardie said, fell not-.only on the doctors, but also <?n their wives aiid families. The mssociafcion claimed, to enforce by boycott and by the infliction of ruin their own ■standard of medical honour and interests: . 'That touched tliCrvital -'interests., of ©very medical man who might be exposed-'to degradation and dishonour at the willof a body which was devoid of the slightest statutory sanction in that behaM. The pTarotiffs had been ptmislied because they defeated the intention to. ovrthrow- the dispensary. They had not §inned againsst the honour of the medida!t_ profession. Tire rules of the association were in restraint of ti'ade and void on grounds of pubKo }X)licy. For unlawful molest aton of. them in their profession he awarded iDr. Burke £1000 and Dr. Holmes and. Dr. Pratt £700 aach.. On iMe claim for libel and slander ho.awarded Ih\ Burke £420. Dr. Pratt '.£630, and Dr. Holme* £360.

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