MEDICAL PROFESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13870, 2 October 1908, Page 6

MEDICAL PROFESSION.

THE SPLIT IN THE RANKS. ' AN IMPORTANT MEETING. "ENVY, HATRED, AND MALICE." A meeting of members of tho medical profession, convened by. Dr. Robert Stopford, was held at the Federal Hall Clubroom last evening. It was a meeting of medical men who are not members of -the local branch of the British Medical Association, and was called to consider "what course of action should be taken to protect the public, when men and women of repute and skill are unable to obtain proper recognition, even,though qualified according to the Medical Act." ■'■■'.. ~ The meeting was held primarily to consider the action of the association with regard to the. minimum fees fixed by it under which its members were allowed, to undertake friendly societies' practice.. Before* some of the New Zealand friendly societies started to do their own dispensing the rate .fixed by the association was 20s per year per member. When the societies were doing their own -dispensing 14s per annum was . suggested as a, reasonable charge for medical attention alone, but the association fixed the rate 'at 16s. Some of the local medical men, however, did friendly society work at the'lower rate, whereupon the British Medical Association practically ostracised these members of the profession by refusing to allow memuerr of the association to meet them in consultation or in operations. Other methods have also been taken by the .association to express disapproval of the lowering of ; the fees'. This is only- one phase of the long-standing dispute between "the British Medical Association and the members of the medical profession who do not belong to that powerful organisation. ~ ■ ' ' The convener of the meeting, who was elected chairman, .said the local medical profession had to face one of the. most serious positions that had ever been put before it, for it had to fight, a conservative and close organisation in the British Medical Association, which had influence all over the world. The fight had been forced upon them. Dr. Stopford intimated that, in referring to the British Medical Association, lie meant the Auckland branch of that organisation. •i Dr. J. /.Keith moved. " That the action taken up by the British Medical Associa,' tion in illogical and un-British, a-nd, moreover, - savours of childishness, and reeks with envy,- hatred, malice, and all'iincliaritablenoss." Dr. :L. Keith seconded the motion, which was carried. ' Ilio convener then moved, " That now it is the duty of the British, Medical Association to take such steps as tend to promote the public good, and not to treat with callous indifference an .urgent and crying public scandal." ;. He said that tho public must not be allowed' *o suffer by the action of the British Medical Association. The motion was seconded by Dr. Owen aud carried. . The next resolution was moved by Dr. J. Keith as : —-"That; this meeting is nob one of aggressivene: and malignancy,; but one that wishes to see the whole body of the profession once more united together, and once more honoured and respected by every individual of the community." Dr. L. Keith seconded, and the motion was carried. "Dr. .Murphy moved, "That the, public safety is equally as clearly our duty to protect, as it is the duty of every practitioner .to succour and help to the best of his skill all and sundry who urgently and of necessity require such skill." " Dr. Florence Keller seconded the motion, which was carried. The next motion was moved by Dr. H. Keith, "That this body of medical men are met together to formulate a scheme of forming a proper union, the fundamental principle of which shall bo liberality of thought; and that no bar to admission to its ranks shall be placed on any individual so long as he or she is a qualified person and has not rendered himself liable to the law of this Dominion." Dr. Stopford seconded the motion, which was carried. " ■ Dr. Owen moved, "That the thanks : of ; this meeting bo given publicly and by this channel to all the chemists and nurses of Auckland who have, to the best of their endeavour, preserved as far as possible a neutral attitude, even though threatened and bullied by the Auckland branch Of the British Medical Association, and have thus done their best to serve the public with skill and discretion. . In supporting tho motion, Dr. Stopford remarked that the association's boycott; had been carried out more stringently in Auckland than anywhere else. He, however, pointed out that local chemists whom he had not supported had never refused to send messages for him. (Applause.) The nurses, too, had considered the interests of their patients before their own, and he honoured them for it. The resolution was affirmed, and Dr. H. Keith moved. " That copies of the whole of the foregoing resolutions .be sent to His Excellency the Governor and the whole of the members of- His Majesty's Govern-; mont of this Dominion." The motion was carried. The following resolution was also carried :—" That, provided the best interests of the public aro safeguarded in a proper manner, it is not the wish of this meeting that any action should be taken at present that would in any way tend to, prevent this coming about, and hence a reasonable delay will take place before .any;... further action is taken, out of consideration for those members of the Auckland branch who aro more or less in sympathy with: us." ' In conclusion', tho chairman said they had shown themselves neither aggressive nor irreconcilable, but on no other ground than that of mutual equality would they recede from the stand they had taken up-: