Attitude of Doctors To Maternity Service

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 98, 28 April 1939, Page 8

Attitude of Doctors To Maternity Service

FREEDOM OF CONTRACT Ter Press Association. NELSON, Last Night. The Nelson division of the British Medical Association unanimously decided that the conditions, terms, and regulations governing maternity benefits under the Social Security Act, as applying to medical men, could not bo approved and that the contract should, therefore, not be accepted. At the same time the division desires that every assistance should be given to motherhood, and maintains that the necessary service is best assured when the patient is entirely free to make her own 1 arrangements privately. This object of maternity benefit can be secured by j such a system as is now in operation through the National Provident Fund I without any contract between the Government and the medical profession coming between the private relationship of the patient and doctor. The division would approve of such a system of cash benefit to the patient and it could bo brought in without delay. SOUTHLAND DOCTORS REJECT CONTRACT TERMS UNANIMOUS DECISION Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. A unanimous decision to reject the terms of the proffered contract between the Minister of Health and doctors dealing with the maternity benefits under the Social Security Act was reached at the annual meeting of the Southland division of the New Zealand Division of the B.M.A. The attendance is reported to have been the biggest at any meeting of the division ever held in Invercargill.