DOCTORS AND LAYMEN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 222, 12 June 1908, Page 4

DOCTORS AND LAYMEN.

DISCUSSION BY HOSPITAL DELEGATES. VALUE OF EXPERT ADVICE.' At. the final sitting of tlio Conference on Hospitals and, Charitable Aid/yesterday aftemooij£:Dr... Batcholgr _ (JQunccli)/ moved.: "That in any base hospital where " ''tho"'hMofafy~modioal staff" consists"of' not JesS'.than-six mqmbersy'thcy shall' annually elect one bf 'their" number to represent fchomf oir -thd '-Boajdv and ho shall be -an ex. officio . member of the •• Board.'' •• ; - The mover claimed that ho had a unique cbnntetion/wi't-h-- 1 -'' hospital Management for thirty years, partly, as a member ,pf governing bodies and partly' as 'a member of medical staffs. Ho submitted that his proposal would obviate . siich'. friction as had i.often occurred, and had led, in some instances, .inquiries. B.y: Royal Commissions. , The fexclusion of''medical officers from the-jnaiiV-: agement had been detrimental to the' instit'iltiprts: His proposal-had been-for many, years in force, in the Old Country, .with very satisfactory results.'" 'Many technical matters came up before the Boards, and expert advice was necessary. Hospital governing bodies at Home were unanimous in recognising the value of representatives of the medical staff. The"'medical staffs of New Zealand hospitals were just as keen for the good of the institutions as any member of; the : trusts;''jit" would -betray v a very,, narrow mind tb<'refuso-their, assistance oh the Boards; He'/'b'ad . never > heard one "solids argument" against'' liis 1 proposal. (Applause;)' .-.Mr. F. Horrell, (North Canterbury Hospital Board) seconded the resolution. The medical representative could not control the' ex-penditure,-but his advice would be very-vain-, able. SOME OPINIONS ON DOC+ORS. : - Mr. J. P. Luko (Wellington Hospital Board) said that if all tho doctors wore like Dr. Batchelor, his proposal would work very well. He thought the best' expert advice should bo secured by ; the Boards' appointing highly-qualified medical .officers at.. adequate salaries. ~He feared the scheme proposed would lead to ,friction.-,.i. >. ... jMr. G. Darton (Gisborne) said'that* his experience at Gisborne' was ; that: - doctors, generally were very difficult persons to get on with. The Education' Boards might as well Wmit teachers to . .their deliberations. Tho Hospital Boards fill had the advantage of tlio export advice of/the/IriSpector-General. ;5Mr. R. C. Kirk (Wellington! supported the motion. The meotings of-the ' Wellington' Trustees were always. attended by Dr. Ewart, and ,his, .valuable .advice , was one causo why therii' haijl been no occasion for any inquiry by% : -Rbyftl : Cbmmissibn. Tho representation, .of...tlje_ Professorial Boards on the gctv'er'ijina .feadie's, iUpiversities-was . a precedent for the scheme" under.''"discussion. ; HieJSon.'jC.,3L.Luke,-.M,L.C..(Wellington. . Hospital Trustees) also supported tho inoMr. E. A. Tapper (Dunedin) testified to thp„,aralue..pf M Dr„.,.Bat.Qbcloi!!s > sei'.vj.ces as..a, member' of the hospital governing body.' Tho suggestion ,of highpr pai.d,-officers would be, . impracticable.;in . fijanyi instances.;' - He.' paid. a ; tribute *t'o"' the' devoted'Hvork • of 'the honorary staff at Dunedin, and warmly supported, the'..motion. .HtM ,< " ■ ; Mr., L. ,J, sagnaJl.:,(Auqklandy.. cou)d not a'grep; that"'.there ./Dr."' Batchclors '111; the/Domvnion/X (Hear;'' hear.) There;"were' many' 'medical men' who'would bo : most' valuable members of: tho.governing'' bodies.:-, The proposal -'seemed anomalous,' but he. was not prepared to' vote against it. ■ i Mr. -6. Carson .'(Wrttiganui) .'. pointed /out that Edncation.ißo'ardr'meatings'wore;always attended by the inspectors,' and the Hospital Boards were equally likely.. to.. honefit by. proffissiniial-'advico. j.- .Mj'.. M.-'. .Jl.axf.qn. .(AY.aii'Arapa). .suggested, that members of the honorary staff could seek olection on the same -footing. as other candidates. Ho opposed., thq'Jresolutibn. "ENDIiESS 'FRItTION" FEARED. Mr. G; Pay-linfe'•'(North .Canterbury' pital Board): said' there wereCr: Batchelors I '- •.iii Cliristchurch who' were over ready 1 to' ; give tho Board, valuable assistance. Doctors, however, 'wore''frequently unable to kgree; amongst themselves, and. endless frio-, tion would ensue if ono of them were placed on a Board. Tho Board should get its, professional advice, from its house, surgeon,, ; Mombers could also seek advice outside tho 'Boara from doctor's who had gained valuable knowledge--at; Home or elsewhere. SELECTION OF HONORARY STAFF. Mr. J. Galla'way (Dunedin) supported the resolution. Ho said that many house surgeons were young and .inexperienced. An. expert on the Board having equal responsibility 'with the members —which ,a paid, official had not —(hear, hear) —could give advice ljust when, it was-"wanted. If the doctor, on the Board' became overbearing, they ; would know what to do with him.. A ;delpgat6:-'-''-Sit on him." j, Thii? speaker al§6 1T thought the honorary-, • staff should be; .' elected;: by the doctors of ' the city.'-' Professional men "knew ■ .the relative qualitheir , colleagues, "and. doctors would make a'hotter ' selection than would bo made' by thoso outsido the ' profession. The man of tho' highest qualifications was not always'the one who 1 was most in favour ': with the public. Mr. G, Loudon (Dunedin) also supported the motion. ' ;. (. • 1 •Mr.'vG': Knight (Auckland)'said that the. Auckland Hospital .Board obtamed the full benefit of the expert- knowledge of the honorary staff.-. . Ho opposed the motion. Dr.- Batohelor, in roply, assorted that'tho advice-, of tho honorary,, staff would' carry more woight than-that 'of- the paid staff. He di'd'iiot OareLgroatly: about {lie honorary.' staff haying voting" power on, the ißoard,but lie-did feer strongly ;, ; tbat their pro. available. He could' givo many...^nstanoeS''of absurd blun-. ders 'thatJiad-bejsii made for want of such- : advice. 1 .; ' '.'The assistance of the honorary staff las indicated;-woiild also tend strongly towai'ds economy; "' -u The., Chairnjan said he ,:hed tf -good deal of sympiithy with the view's of Dr. Ba.tchelor, and"l-he...had...heen..-.particularlyv,pleased to hear the views of the Dunedin delegates ,as the Board in that city controlled the only medical school in tho Dominion. Mr. Gallaway's suggestion, that the mom.bers -of., tho .profession-in- the-large -centres' should olect the honorary staff, was one which- he,;-would strongly commend ,to the consideration,, of the Confere'iico. Tho motioh"was carried.-'