LADY DOCTORS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 154, 30 June 1913, Page 6

LADY DOCTORS.

AND HOSPITAL WORK.

DIFFICULTY OF QUARTERS.

The question of woman's sphere ia the medical world, or at least tJuvt phase of it relating to hospital work, was the subject of an illuminating discussion at thie morning's meeting , of the 'Hospital Committee. Last week the Hospital Board agreed to the appointment of a fifth junior resident medical officer at a salary of £100 per annum, with quartere, and this morning three applications for the position eaine before the committee. One ■was from Dr. Eleanor Baker, who was for some time in practice in Auckland, and the other two were from Messrs Finlay and Spedding. both of whom are about to sit for their final examinations in I/unedin. The chairman (Mr M. J. Coyle) aeked the Medical Superintendent whether there wae, in hie ■opinion, any objection to the appointment of n lady to the position. Dr. Maguire replied that the principal difficulty concerned the quartering of a lady doctor. It would not be possible for her to be allotted, rooms in the medical residents' house, and the matron had raised similar objections with regard to her department. The Chairman: It seems to mc to be strange that in such a large hospital, with 6o many female patients, we cannot arrange to have a lady doctor. I Dr. Maguire: A lady doctor may be desirable in a women's or in a children's hospital, -but in a general hospital s-he would have to take her β-hare of the work in the male wards. There are several other -reasons why euch an appointment should not be made.

Dr. Florence KelleT: We]), let's hear them. Dj. Maguire: I don't like to 6tate them here. I will tell Dr. Keller privately. Dr. Keller: I have heard these yarns from men until lam tired of them. Dr. Eleanor Baker is a smart, bright woman, with just the experience that we are wanting here, and yet her appointment is opposed because of the objections of a few men. i The Chairman (jocularly):. Terrible creatures, these men! Dr. Keller (seriously) : Oh. mem are all right in their place. Mr. Mackay: Will you tell us what is their place? Dr. Keller: We won't discuss that now. I take it that we are considering a more serious matter. Dr. Maguire: Where would you accommodate a lady doctor? She could not live with the four junior doctors.

Dr. Keller: I would put her in the nurses' home, or in the matron's apaTtments. Dr. Maguire: The matron says she won't have her there. The Chairman: For mv part, I am quite prepared to give the proposal a trial. Mr. Mennie moved: "That the three applications be sent on to the full Board for consideration." The Chairman: I will move as an amendment: "That Dr. Eleanor Baker be offered the position." Mr. L. J. Bagnall said he knew Dr. Baker to be a very clever woman. Br. Maguire: She is a very nice woman, but the appointment of lady doctors at hospitals has been tried before. Mr. Mackay: 'Was it a success? Dr. Maguire: No. The Chairman: I «innot for the life of mc see why a lady doctor cannot be kept in a large hospital where four or five resident medical officers are engaged. Mr. Bagnall suggested that the situation might be dealt with by the appoint-j ment of a visiting lady doctor. Dr. Keller: 'We have one already. Dr. Frost is a member of the visiting staff.

It was eventually agreed to refer the three names to the -full BoaTd, and to ask the Medical Superintendant and the Ijady Saperintendant to furnish reports containing their recommendations, and a few matter-of-fact reasons connected therewith.