REPORTING OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9455, 10 March 1894, Page 5

REPORTING OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

[BT TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] • Thames, Friday. At the last meeting of the Borough Council Dr. Collins sent in a report stating that a case of infectious disease existed at Irishtown, bub he failed to describe the nature of same. As there appeared to be considerable doubt as to whether it v. as compulsory for a doctor to report the nature of an infectious diseases under the new Act, it was decided to refer the matter to Mr. J. A. Miller, the Borough's solicitor, for his opinion, which has just been received, and is as follows :— "In reference to the matter submitted to me, namely, whether ib is incumbent on modical practitioners when giving a notice to the local Board of a case of infectious disease to state the nature of the disease from which the patient is suffering, having given the matter careful consideration I am of opinion that the medical practitioner is bound to do so, and this is clearly stated in Section 4 of the Amending Act of 1893, which also says the notice is to be given in the form contained in theschedule or to the effect thereof. Although the schedule does nob provide a column foi stating the " nature of the disease," still the medical practitioner is not bound to the strict form in the schedule and cannot shelter himself behind that to avoid stating the nature of the disease in bis notice. Further, presuming that the schedule and the Amending Act are at variance, it is a rule of law that the schedule must give way. I would suggest that you have new forms of schedule printed with a column for the nature of the disease, and in preparing these I think it would be advisable to have them done in columns and headings instead of side notes as at present. This alteration would enable the medical practitioner, if necessary, bo pub several cases on one form."