Bill to Register Osteopaths

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 54, 5 March 1943, Page 6

Bill to Register Osteopaths

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Mar. 3. A move for the registration of osteopaths in the Dominion is contained in a private member ’s bill, the Osteopathic Practitioners Bill, introduced by Mr. B. McKeen (Wellington South), who said that at present there was only one qualified osteopathic practitioner in the Dominion, a young New Zealander who had studied and obtained high qualifi-

cations in the United States. Osteopaths, said Mr. McKeen, were required to attain even higher qualifications than many registered m,edical practitioners and there was little chance of attracting young people into the profession unless those who qualified were given some legal standing. He asked that members should give the measure

some thought and investigation. In the United States there were three osteopath colleges and graduates therefrom entered hospitals. They also had proper legal recognition there. The bill defined their training before registration, prevented unauthorised persons from practising osteopathy, and gave registered osteopaths the same right of practice as registered medical practitioners. Mr. McKeen claimed that osteopathy was not a system of quackery but a highly specialised profession. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) said he would like to warn members about giving consideration to a measure such as that being introduced. Osteopathy might be common in the United tSates but lie hoped we would never get it in New Zealand. With so many of our medical men absent giving splendid service overseas, this was not the time, he thought, for the introduction of such a measure. The Bill would give recognition to gentlemen who occupied a position of quackery. The people had to bo protteted from their own gullabilitv and we also had to safeguard the interests of our young people who were studying medicine. Dr. D. G. McMillan (Dunedin West) expressed the opinion that the Bill would go to the health committee of the House and that nothing much more would be heard of it. Mr. Clyde Carr (Timaru) urged that members should keep an open mind on the subject. Hon. I > . Fraser said a Bill of this kind deserved a fair run. He knew the young osteopath mentioned by Mr. McKeen and he could say there was not a trace of charlatanism about him. He had discussed the matter with doctors and members of the B.M.A. and had not found any hostility to osteopathy. Mr. F. W. Schramm (Auckland East) said that anyone with anything to ofer suffering humanity should be given a trial and hearing. Let us judge the Bill on its merits, he said. The Bill was introduced, read the first time and also the second time, pro forma, and referred to the health committee.