THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 8 June 1925, Page 11

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

{To the Editor.} Sir, —Some months ago considerable discussion took place in your columns about the hostile attitude adopted by the Medical Association with regard to , the refusal to permit the trial of any treatment in the hospital in cases of sickness for which orthodox methods were proving of very little use. I refer specially to case£ of infantile paralysis, which were often terminating- fatally. I have now just come into touch with a most deplorable case of a young felllow who. after an accident met with on the football field, has developed serious symptoms, the case being diagnosed as one of cerebral tumour. Realising the possibility, in fact, I think the probability, that by using a certain treatment, his life, which is now despaired of, might be saved, I called on the mother, to whom I showed particulars published in a book by a London doctor, of an exactly similar case which had been successfully treated by Dr. G. Laughton Scott, who is the author referred to, and a Harley Street specialist. I begged as the treatment was available in Auckland, to give it a trial. The mother acknowledged that the two cases were exactly similar, but said she would see the doctor before deciding. I came in contact with this gentleman the same day, to whom I spoke about the case, and, as he acknowledged that it was serious in the extreme, I suggested that the treatment which I mentioned to the young man's mother should be given a trial, and showed him particulars of Dr. Laughton .Scott's case. When, however, he noticed the name of the treatment he immediately refused to read the case, and told mc point blank that he would have nothing whatever to do with it. T pointed out to him that it presented a possibility of saving- a dvinjr man and that surely no harm could be done by giving it a trial, and that it was, therefore, his duty to do so; but, alas! all my pleadinss proved in vain, and it was Dolitely. but firmly, intimated to mc that the interview must end. The fact alone that a Harlev Street specialist has effected a remarkable cure in an exactly similar case by means of a treatment of which the conservative London Pre? 3is acknowledges the value, even to statins that it is the only treatment that is curing otherwise honele*.- disease, should be quite sufficient to compel any conscientious doctor in charge of such a case to give it an immediate trial while there may be time. Sir. on the shoulders of medical men. who often hold human life in the hollow of their hands, rest? a tremendous responsibility, and I tru=t. therefore, that as this is an instance where one of them eithpr does not or will not realise what is his obvious duty, you will at any rate see that you, yourself, have a duty to the public by allowing these particulars to appear in your columns in the hope that case? like this, where a human life i? involved, may arouse the public's anger and condemnation. —I am. etc.. D. iiILBURX.