DOCTORS AND FEES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 4

DOCTORS AND FEES.

MEDICAL MEN AT LOGGERHEADS. Cox irLßiiiuvu—ruKsa association.) , Auckland, October 2. A meeting of medical men who are not members of tlio British Medical Association was held last night, primarily to consider the action of the association in fixing the minimum fees under. which its members will be allowed to undertake friendly societies' practice at 16s. per member per annum for medical attendance alone. Some medical men having taken friendly society work at a lower rate, the association had refused to allow its members to meet them in consultations or operations. \Other methods were taken by the association to express disapproval of the lowering of tho fees. _ The meeting was attended by nine medical men, who passed a resolution declaring that the action of the association w;as illogical and un-Britisb, savouring of.-childishness, and reeking with envy, hatred,'] malice, and all uncharitablencss; that it is the duty of crery practitioner to succour and help to the best of his skill and ability all who urgently and of necessity requiro such skill. It was further resolved to .form a union of medical men, the fundamental principle of which shall be liberty of thought, with no bar to admission to any individual so long as he or she has iiot becomo liable to the law of tho Dominion; also to convey thanks to tho chemists and nurses who had preserved .1 neutral attitude, though threatened and bullied by the Auckland branch of the Medical' Association. REPLY BY THE ASSOCIATION. The official reply of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association to tho statements of non-members about an alleged boycott is that the statements are manifestly misleading and incorrect. . A direct denial is given to the assertion that nurses, chomist6, or dispensers 'are in any way ■ cocrccd. The association says that in any real emorgoncy it has always held that s patient's interest should take precedence of any other consideration. The members of the association claim the right as individual! against being coerced into eoiiMihations t.h«jobject to.