DOCTORS' "INFAMY"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 37, 12 February 1926, Page 2

DOCTORS' "INFAMY"

4 ; . THE RIGHT TO WRITE AN APPEAL TO PAELIAMENT. (From Oar Own Cofrtipontyent) LONDON, 29th December. Sooner or later it appears that a serious, effort will be made to curtail some of the powers of the General Medical Council, whose discipline has always been a menace to more enterprising medical practitioner*.. Early next session an appeal to Parliament is to be made by the New Health Society to force the Medical Council' to define its attitude toward* doctors who write for. newspapers. ■ Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane, Bart, who ip president of this new society for the promotion of national health, has expressed his opinion publicly on the subject. "We want some definite statement from the General Medical Council," he said in an interview. "Medical men should be allowed to write about the prevention of disease. Take diet, for instance. The public knows, little or nothing about-diet, because the medical officers and the Ministry of Health have not told them. We must step in and do what they should have done. "Many of bur best men will not write because they are afraid. If the Medical. Council will not do anything we can at least appeal to Parliament. That appeal is being, and will be, made, Every active means is being prosecuted at present. We will .get some amendment to the A^t, for we are not going to keep quiet. The Medical Council have only one word—' infamous.' It r is absurd to say that when one writes about the people's health that ia 'in* famous.' " Sir Arbuthnot Lane has recently come back from the United States and Canada./ "The effort in. America of some of. the most enlightened members of l;he .medical ;.projfesßion . to, eduoaie the...public. was-iQllowe^i '^jieuffaid, ''by an putery -from the powerful American Medical.; Association.;,...... The, educators went on, giving immensely 'successful popular ■lectutes." 'Members at the association thrsat,erie3. <to resign, and finally it changed ..tactics, ";,*aw th*at education was most popular,; and began to help in the good work; Medical men should'be allowed to write where people can-read their advice. 7. Beading is the bent form of education." ■ DR. P. W. AXHAM'B CASE. " An instance of the adamant attitude of medical organisations to their members is apparent in the fact that the application of Dr. F. W. Axham to be reinstated as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons has been refused. Dr. Axham is now 86 years of age, and in 1911 he was removed from the medical .register and'deprived of membership of the college for acting, as anaesthetist • .to Sir (then Mr.) Herbert Barker, the [famous bone-setter. His action.was described 1 as "infamous professional conduct." It- is understood that the decision of the' Royal College of Surgeons was due to the fact that Dr. Axham, in applying for reinstatement, did not admit that he had done wrong in breaking the bylaws of>-ther college. It was felt that if the council'accepted the view that subsequent events —the honour bestowed \ upon Sir Herbert Barker by-the King—justified his conr duct they would automatically acknowledge the wrongfulness of the bylaws. This was a doctors' dilemma which the council even at the risk of appearing to censure! the King, could see no way out of." . ; ■ FAMOTTS Kft'l OJTEB. „ Sir Herbert Barker, interviewed abroad,, said:. "I more profoundly sorry than I can say that Dr. Axham's name has not been restored to the ModicaT Register. It is truly a heartbreaking affair. A well-known Harley Street surgeon has just written to me saying that he has talked the matter over wtih hundreds of doctors, and has not met a single man who was not strongly in favour of his reinstatement. I am quite willing to go before the General, Medical Conncil personally to plead, for his reinstatement, and I am in favour of a petition to His Majesty. A famous titled K.C. has written to me stating that if Dr. Axham will take his case to a higher Court he will defend him, and charge no fen whatever for his services, bo deeply does he feel for him." 85, Fleet streot.