MEDICAL BILLS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18150, 13 August 1924, Page 9

MEDICAL BILLS.

DETAILS OF PROVISIONS. (specul to "the fbess.") WELLINGTON, August 12. The Medical Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, which wis introduced to.the House of Representatives this afternoon, provides that the Medical Board shall in future be known as the Medical Council. Instead of as in the past being constituted of the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals and six medical practitioners nominated by the Government, it will comprise a nominee of the 8.M.A., and that member of the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Otago who for the time being holds office as member of the Medical Board. The first vacanci ; occurring after the passage of the Bill shall be filled in accordance with the new arrangement. The Bill makes further provisions in regard to diplomas. Persons registered 'or eligible for registration iu the United Kingdom by virtue of a foreign diploma shall not be entitled as of right to registration in New Zealand, but the Council shall have the power of refusal or approval, and may, if it thinks fit, require a candidate to pass an examination in medicine and surgery.

Disciplinary powers are vested in the Council to strike the name off the register of any practitioners removed from the English roll or from the New Zealand roll on notice in writing to the person affected. If the Council has reason to suspect that any registered practitioner has been guilty of grave impropriety or inf;- v ius conduct, it may call upon him tj- show cause why he' should not be dealt with in a disciplinary manner. Power is given the Council to Suspend practitioners for a period not exceeding twelve months;, or to impose a monetary penalty not exceeding £SO. There shall be the right of appeal to the Supreme Court. No medical practitioner is to resume practice after discharge from a mental hospital without a license from the Council. Where a license has been refused, there shall also be the right of appeal to the Supreme Court. Practising without a license involves summary cortvietion and a fine of £IOO, and £2O for each day during which the offence occurs.

Unregistered Dentists. For some years now there has been an agitation on the part of dentists who have failed to pasa examinations but have been working Under qualified dentists, the object of the agitation being to obtain by Act of Parliament further provision to enablo them to pass the necessary examination to qualify. The Government have now introduced a. Bill with a view to giving such dentists a. further opportunity to qualify. The Bill provides that anyone may, not later than March, 1926, apply to be registered as a dentist, and shall be entitled to be so registered who, not being a returned soldier, satisfies the Director-General of Health that on February 11th, 1922, he had been continuously engaged in dental work in New Zealand for four years before that date, and that for not less than two of those years he had been engaged in the performance of surgical dental' operations. In the case of i returned soldier the dentist must satisfy the Director-General that on the dato mentioned he had been continuously engaged in dental work in NewZealand for not less than the two immediately preceding years, or that hj had been continuously engaged in dental work in Ne%v Zealand for not le3S than two years prior to his enlistment, and had been again continuously engaged for not less than one year immediately preceding February 11th, 1922.

Provision is made that such persons must pass an examination in general knowledge, unless such examination is deemed not necessary, or that they must pass an examination in dentistry including dental surgery. Provision is made for partial passes. Betnrned soldiers entitled to be registered as dentists in England may be registered in New Zealand. Registration of Masseurs.

An Amending Bill to deal with the registration of masseurs was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. Replying to a question by Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon), the Minister of Health (Sir Maui Pomare) said that the masseurs had asked for the Bill, which was mainly technical, bringing them into line with other countries. The Bill defined the term "massage." The Bill provides for an increase of from one to two masseurs on the Registration Board, the remaining members of the Board being tho registrar and a medical practitioner, as under the 3320 Act. The Bill does not apply to chiropractors.