Dr M'Clure's Scruples.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 653, 27 November 1874, Page 3

Dr M'Clure's Scruples.

•y Dr M'Clure, of Invercargill, who, it will be remembered, refused to comply with the 17th section of our Public Health Act, on the ground that when he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England he made a declaration not to divulge information entrusted to him professionally, and that any breach of this undertaking would expose him to the penalties of perjury, now finds himself beaten on all sides. Dissatisfied with the Attorney-General's opinion on the subject which favored the view taken by the local health authorities, Dr M'Clure appealed with confidence to the ' Lancet,' which, however, pronounces thus : " Dr M'Clure is perhaps right in raising the ethical question ; but we cannot agree with him iv his views concerning it. As far as we remember, there is no specific undertaking of tbe kind he mentions. There is a general undertaking on the part of the new member to demean himself honorably in the practice of his profession. But even if a bye-law of the College forbade the disclosure of information acquired in a professional way, this could nut override the obligation to divulge such information at the bidding of the law, for State purposes or for tbe ends of justice. It may be a question whether the State should impose the duty on the medical men or on the friends of the patient. But every week's, experience teaches us that the State has the deepest interest in such information. And it is entitled to demand it. The consequences of not receiving it promptly ate the. spread of disease and the occurrence of perfectly preventable deaths. Ii the State imposes such a duty 0 n medical men it should pay them for discharging if, and pay them well. On reflection, and especially conquering that the declaration does; not contain puch words as be supposes, Dr M'Clure will probably agree with Mr Carter, a Fellow, by the way, of his College, in approving of the principle of the clause in the Public Health Act of the Legislature of New Zealand. It would be unpleasant, apart from law, to compel a medical man to disclose information, but for great public purposes, and at the bidding of the law, it is highly reasonable to do so."—' Star.'