DOCTORS REPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1936, Page 4

DOCTORS REPLY

TO MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (P«r Press Association, Copyright). WELLINGTON, June 10. A reply to the r, Ministerial statement referring to th e duty of doctors in making known the fact when attending cases where death occurs as the result of criminal abortion, was made to-day, at the conclusion of the meeting of the council of the ,New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association. The reply stated that the Association had done everything in, its power to aid the law in'the suppression of the evil.

The reply continued _• “Members of the Association are in general agreement with the Coroner and with the Minister in regard to the notification

of anv death which a doctor has reason to believe was the result of some person’s criminal act.

“The Association will take the means to inform its .members that such a course of action is on e that should hi- adopted in these circumstances., This practice would then, be in conformitv with the rules laid down by the Royal College of Phvsi ians for the guidance of practitioners in these cases Such a recommendation, coming from - the Association. would, in future, he a guide to tne doctor in a situation which is always fraught with great difficulty and responsibility. Tf a Minister, decided to set up anv form of inquiry, h e will be afforded the fml support of the profession. “In regard to the position of the Director-General of Health in th*e matter. the members of the Association are under no misapprehension. He was merely the channel through which an opinion on purelv legal aspects oi thp case was transmitted from the Crown Law Office to the Obstetrical Society.”