MEDICAL SERVICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 283, 11 September 1941, Page 8

MEDICAL SERVICE

STRONG OPPOSITION TO BILL.

VIEWS OF HASTINGS DOCTORS.

(P.A.) HASTINGS, September 10. A decision to strongly oppose the Bill amending the Social Security Act was reached at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay • division of the British Medical Association last night. In a statement issued after the meeting, the grounds on which opposition to the legislation was based were set out as follows: (1) The Bill is coercive. (2) Since the days of Magna Carta it has been an inalienable privilege of every loyal subject to earn his living as he pleases within the law. This Bill takes away that right from the medical profession. This Bjll does nothing to improve the health of the community. Bather, with an enormous increase in unnecessary work consequent on its passing, the genuinely sick must inevitably suffer.

(3) The Bill is designed to make revolutionary changes in the life and practice of the medical profession. In addition, 30 per cent, of the doctors of this land, overseas as volunteers, are by their patriotism prevented from expressing an opinion. Is this the wish of the people of New Zealand? (4) Sinco the conception of the Social Security Act there has never been any consultation in the ordinary sense of the word with tho medical profession.

(5) The final court of appeal is the Minister for Health. When a man’s whole future might have to be decided, we consider that a trained jurist,, a Judge of the Supremo Court, would be the only suitable person to adjudicate. (6) The Bill, in principle, interferes unjustly with the liberty of the subject, the patient as well as tho doctor.

In detail it is unworkable. It must be opposed by every right-thinking, liberty-loving person in New Zealand.