BLUDGEONING THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 14

BLUDGEONING THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

' Sir,—The report of Jlr. 11. Fletcher's question and Air. Russell's reply show how little'tlicy understand what is meant by "medical ethics." First, ii medical man can refusn to answer any call for his services, but in my lon;,' experience, when this has happened, the public have been to blame. Would a forced attendance be any good? You can force a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drinl;, and you •■cannot make a man think. It's a medical mini's brains that arc wanted, and 3 on cannot make hint use them. Years ago unqualified assistants were employed by medical men who had club and calling practices at Homo. Ail end to this was brought about by the General Jledical Council in tho interests of. the public. The solo aim of the British Medical Association in New Zealand is to get fair remuneration for their members in order that they shall be able to do coed work for their patients—sweated labour is dear in any line. Anyone who lias knowledge, of present, medical routine must know that it is impossiblo to do justice

to patients. if a medical man has .to accept them for 155., per annum. An early examination oi the urine may menu lite or deutJi to a patient, and an examination of the bloou in u greater degree. Do lodgo patients get it i" Ko, tney're let dnit. You've got to take human -nnttim ns it is, and i can truly say, club and lodge patients get the attention they deservo and nothing more. No amount of silly cackle in any Parliament will alter this. You must pay your medical man a proper fee, and trust him, because if you Uon't pay through your jiocket you pay through the neck unless you are poor, tiod knows, medical men do enough for them. In my twenty years of medical lifo I've struck oft' tnousands of pounds —some with a glow of pride anu some feeling pretty sick. Hundreds have como into my house, got niy advice or been helped into hospital, and I never even knew their names. If any man says there is a single rule in "medical ethics" that is not primarily and chielly for the benefit of the patient, he is a liar—just that and nothing else. Let Mr. Kussell bring forward his drastic proposal. I am a member of the British Medical Association. I have and will continue to refuse to meet any medical mail guilty of unprofessional conduct, and ruled so by the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association. Now, what is needed at a consultation? Things need clearing up—the patient is not satisfied with his progress. Two things he can do—ask for a consultation or dismiss his medical attendant and get another. I once knew a Dr. "Just-in-time." Do you think in just a little time any of us would meet that man. No, and the answer is easy. If a medical man with an obscure case is to have a consultation with a fellow medical at the earliest moment to be of benefit to his patient, must it not be.with a mail he can trust? I simply couldn't consult with a man I despised or mistrusted; with a person of that kind I creep within my shell, and would be useless to his patient. At a medical meeting I confess I took a much lower piano than the other members. I urge<l trade-union tactics, and also said, lot us take the .£1 Is., and agieo with the blackguard iu his diagnosis! This was fight, but I know in my conscience I should simply refuse to meet him. Yes, Messrs. Fletcher and Russell, you know little about human nature,—l am, etc., M.D., Etc., Etc., From outside Wellington.