MEDICAL BOARD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14822, 13 November 1913, Page 13

MEDICAL BOARD.

•_■--. ... ~♦,,• -T- . IfltlW BODY PBOPpSED. FOR REGULATION AND CONTROL. (sp-Rcai/ to "ntr tress.") " WELLINGTON, November 12. Following ppon tho action of other ftk'lled professions in establishing a special board for th.o purpose of regulation and control, there hap now been introduced into the Legislative Council a special Bijl dea'ing with the medical profession on similar lines. Tho Medical Pr_£t'tiam__ Bill (in chargp of tho Hon. P. H. j). Bell) was circulated this evening, and dea'3 ponipror heqsivoly with tho subject. It is proposed, in tlie first instance, that frpm Marpli, 10U. thero shall be established a Medical Board to consist of -even members, of whom the In-spector-General of hospitals shall, ox Olflcio, be one, while the Governor shall appoint registered med'eal praotit "oners to tho remaining efx positions. The period of offiois fs threo j-ears, but the, Governor may at any time remove any member for ''s-t_i Cause as. he thinks sufficient." After the election of a chairman at tho first mcotiug, the Board is to meet regularly once 9, Biantb for the tran-saction of business. One p| the principal duties oi tbo IJoard is td register medical practitioners. The qualification for registration is:—■(l) Graduation in medicine and sur-' ger-y in the New Jjjealapd University. ' (?) Beidstratjon under tho various Acts obtaining in tho United Kingdom or eligibility tor such registration. ; (3) Possession of the diploma of any foreign university, qftor at least five years' pr_h_i- study. In the latter case tho Board may refuse registration if in that foreign country >>'ew Zealand grsjduatea may not, without spcc'al examination, engage in practice. No person may be registered who has been convicted, of m indictable offence involving inir prisonment with hard labour for two pear, or moro, or who is not of pood fame or character. A month's notice

in the "Gazette" artd a local newspaper is required for registration, and persons objecting to such registration may forward objections in writing to tl'o Registrar-General- The Board is to consider ' applications and instruct tha I-egistrarrC'eneral as to its decision, in "the event of a refusal, a rejected applicant may take proceedings in the Supreme Court. After specifying; the mode of keepinf" the register m each contre, the Bill goes op to provide that the Supreme Court may, on tho application of the Board, grant an order for the removal from tho register of tho name of any person g«M«v of misconduct or ?m indictable offence. A penalty of £5 per day for each day of the offence is provided for. The offenco of medicine or surgery, or any part thereof, without being registered to do so. or for implying that a degree or diploma is held by the supposed practitioner, for attempting, to procure. fraudulent registration, arid for assisting W that attempt, a penalty of three years imprisonment with $r without hard k-boujr is provided. •__•'_■ Other prbvisiops are that reg?stcreo gr*ctiti_ners may sue for c * 13 ** iat unregistered persons shall not hold medica] qr surgical appmntroents . in the Defence in J_y'l'«P ltal -or cb-witahle jnsiii-irion, or W &V 9 Friendly Society ujuier pain of a 4-50 fine- Prw_abnai pr-ct-sing cert-** ficates may Tju grii—tea by "Chi I"*__i*' injT-General to rerpain In forte for twp mduilis, hut may penewpd. ; BUI is not to aiEfect r_s3g_ex«d cheuiistß # ; deuvigiß. mfdwiyea, or nurscsl ] . S5-s_!- I ' .',~