MEDICAL SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 10

MEDICAL SERVICE

Sir, —Henry H, Holland’s reply is disappointing. Instead of answering he evades my criticism, and introduces new matter irrelevant to the point at issue. We are agreed that "if the doctors and everybody else did concede the Government’s democratic right to make, available to all citizens necessary medical treatment, irrespective of the individual’s ability to pay. the question of how to apply the principle would still be a very contentious and difficult matter.” But my submission was, and is, that unless the principle is conceded the difficulty will prove “insuperable,” either now. or at the end of the war; and that, the unavoidable contention will be likely to develop beyond ordinary political strife, into a deplorable social conflict. On the other hand,- were the principle of the proposed legislation accepted, it ought to be possible for the Government, with the assistance and co-operation of the medical profession, to fashion legislation which would not deny that personal freedom to the profession which is essential to true democratic progress. Unquestionably, a grave responsibility rests upon the Government in this matter, but a responsibility, no less grave, rests upon the doctors; and it is of the utmost importance that the vital issues at stake in this controversy be made clear to all classes of people, and not become submerged by secondary considerations, or party political prejudice. — Yours, etc -^ RTHUR IevERSEDGE. September 29. 1941.