MEDICAL EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 21935, 23 January 1935, Page 2

MEDICAL EDUCATION

SPECIAL INVESTIGATORY COMMITTEE LIMITATION OF STUDENTS DISCUSSED CRITIC ANSWERED BY DR NEWLANDS The decision that the whole subject of medical education in New Zealand should ho investigated by a special committee set up by the Senate pf the New Zealand University, made at a meeting of the senate in Christchurch, on Monday, arose out of tho limitation of the number of students entering for the medical course at the Otago Medical School. The Vice-chancellor (Professor T. A. Hunter) reported that the Standing Committee of the Academic Board had made tho following recommendation, and he moved:— *' That the senate set up a special committee to consider the system of medical education in Now Zealand, and to report to the meeting of the senate in 1936; that the Executive Committee be given power to appoint additional members if this is considered necessary.” After considerable debate it was decided to add the provision: “ That the committee shall consult with any medical visitor who is in New Zealand at the invitation of the Now Zealand Medical Council.”

The question, said Professor Hunter, was whether, by some alteration in the course, it might ho jiossible to do away with limitation altogether. It had been advocated that the view should be obtained of a visiting expert from England, hilt before that was done it would he necessary to clear up the local position. Mr Kenneth Mackenzie (who, with Mr H. F. Van Haast, visited the Otago Medical School to frame a report for this meeting of senate) moved that the proposed committee should consist of Professor Hunter (convener), Mr Von Haast, Professor H. G. Denham, and Dr W. Newlands. It appeared, he" continued, that the Otago University had been inundated with so many medical entrants that without limitation of some sort they could not be instructed. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the senate it was decided that Mr Vou Haast and tho speaker should visit Otago and submit a report. “ After investigation,” said Mr Mackenzie, “we report with regret that limitation is necessary. The University has the duty of providing medical training in New Zealand. Limitation means disappointment in many quarters. “ Although Otago had exhausted its clinical resources,” Mr Mackenzie continued, “ wq thought it might be possible to rearrange tho courses or the system as a whole so that instruction will be available for all entrants. Limitation is not a desirable thing.” The medical education, Mr Mackenzie continued, could be divided into two classes—the academic side and the practical or clinical side. The academic teaching at Otago was of a very high standard, and the buildings were fully adequate; but on the hospital side there was a limit of resources, and there were no means by which facilities could be increased. If the sixth-year students could he instructed in other centres where tuition and hospital experience were available, the position might be met.

“It is unthinkable,” he said, “ that a second medical school can be set up in New Zealand, within our range of vision at least, but unless there is some extension of facilities at present there may be a most unsatisfactory position. In Oxford and Cambridge the students take their academic side of medicine, and then go to London for their clinical training. The matter is one for the fullest investigation, so that all possible data may be collected.”

Mr F. A. de la Mare said that it should be quite clear that the senate was not in favour of the principle of limitation. The question, he thought, was how clinical experience could be obtained in Dunedin. The question was one of fact, not of principle. Mr Von Haast at this juncture pointed out that Otago had asked for the assistance of the senate in devising a fair and satisfactory way out of the difficulty. “ We should make some pronouncement on this matter of vital import.” said Mr de la Mare. “Wo expect the medical faculty,” ho continued, “to use foresight in dealing with medical education, and to report on the possibilities of, say, five years ahead. This trouble should have been foreseen, and not just brought to us with a year’s notice. Dunedin is a static town, and the position must have been apparent some time ago. The reason for the trouble is historical. The Medical School was founded in Dunedin with courage and foresight, but it became a sort of vested interest. We should have been faced with the position before all its difficulties developed. I hope that in future the faculty will not catch us on the hop.” In twenty-five years, said Mr de la Mare, the needs of the country for medical men would bo greatly increased. The Dunedin medical training was splendid, but he was frightened that a certain professional parochialism might

“Is not that a nasty reflection to go out?” asked the pro-Chancellor (Mr J. A. Hanan). “ I do not Ipiow where to start in dealing with the inaccuracies of Mr de la Mare,” said Dr W. Newlands. _ “ He is talking of something of which he knows nothing. I am a member of the faculty of the Medical School and a teacher there as well. The great influx of pupils recently was wholly unexpected. It had been published that the professors had been instructed to ho especially severe in examinations, but there has been no raising of the standard whatsoever. “The school lias facilities on the clinical side quite adequate for the training of the sixty doctors or thereabouts that New Zealand requires every year. The Government of the day restricted the clinical facilities by interfering with the hospital, so arranging it that about thirty patients per day Jess were available. It must be said that if the school is training a number of students that is obviously in excess of the national demand, the Government might reduce the liberal grants. “ I dissociate myself with any suggestion of lack of prevision,” said Dr Newlands. “ The time will come when there is need for another Medical School, and when it does there will be no objection from Dunedin.” Mr W. J. Morrell, of Otago, supported the formation of a committee—one which would consider the whole general question, ’ Dr Newlands, who is chairman of the Council of the New Zealand Medical Association, said that the council itself would probably be inviting an eminent English authority to visit New Zealand.

Mr L. D. Ritchie-said that, though from Otago, be was not so condemnatory of Mr de la Male's remarks as Dr Newlands, It was erroneous to state

that the Medical Council had advocated limitation. ft had to be admitted, however, that if far too many young doctors were turned out they ■ /tiki not all be able to find remunerative practices, and would have to go overseas. The increase in the number of entrants was not confined to the one faculty, and was regarded ns temporary. Mr Mackenzie's motion as lo the personnel of the committee was adopted, and Mr Mackenzie's own name was added.