MEDICAL STUDENTS AND THE WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 12

MEDICAL STUDENTS AND THE WAR.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,—As outlined in a “ local ” in your issue of yesterday, the perplexities of the Otago Medical Students’ Association in relation to their military obligations would make fbe gods laugh and saints to weep. The medical profession, both in embryo and in practice, certainly lakes itself very seriously ; bub as a father of sons who have not thought it necessary to consider their private careers at a time when our very existence is at stake, -I fail to see why any one career should be regarded as more important to the commonweal than another. From the health standpoint, both present and future, many of our budding medicos could be better spared and more easily replaced than, say, the members of our city sanitary services, who have as a body not made any special claim for exemption from military service. Let the medical,student get into line with those oilier thousands in all walks of life who have regarded their personal careers as of small importance in -the present grim struggle for oiir very existence. Only a complete and final victory for onr cause will ensure anyone's' career, and to achieve that, the services of every eligible man arc required, whether he be doctor or dustman. —I am, etc , C. W. Sinclair. March 12.