UNREGISTERED PHYSICIAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16877, 15 June 1918, Page 8

UNREGISTERED PHYSICIAN

PRACTICE OF OSTEOPATHY.

AMERICAN WOMAN FINED.

An unusual case came before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, Linda Burfield Hazzard (Mr. J. E. Reed, K.C.) being charged that not being registered under the Medical Practitioners Act she practised medicine under the style and title of a physician. A plea of not guilty was entered. _ It was stated in evidence that an advertisement had. been published, in which the defendant was described as licensee 1 physician, U.5.A.," and which said. " o»sy natural methods can restore a diseased body to health." An article in the paper describing her as " Dr. Hazzard " had not been contradicted by defendant, who had supplied the interviewer with a pamphlet written by Dr. Linda Hazzard. Detective-Sergeant Hollis said he visited defendant at her rooms and asked her if she was Mrs. Hazzard. She replied, " I am Dr. Hazzard." When questioned about the advertisement, the defendant pointed to two diplomas on the wall.

Gross-examined, witness said that defendant might have said that she dij not prescribe drugs. One of the diplomas •which had been issued at Washington, authorised defendant to practice osteopathy. Mr. Reed said osteopathy was a wellrecognised form of science in America. Drugs were not used, but the science consisted of dieting, a thorough cleansing of the system by internal and external baths, and manipulation. It was necessary to study four years before a diploma was issued. Mrs. Hazzard was a well-known osteopath. She had written several books, and was referred to by numerous writers.' Miss Campfoll, assistant police matron, said she had consulted Mrs. Hazzard, who told her that she used no medicines. Defendant described her treatment, and stated that her fee was £12 per month, which was the shortest period she would treat a patient. Witness subsequently wrote to defendant, signing herself " Annie Carr," and received a replv on notepaper bearing the words " Bloodies surgeon.''

Detective J Cummings said when he served a oiin&rnons on defendant she adjutted she was not registered, and said that the pamphlet was printed in America. Chief-Detective McMahon asked the witness a question as to an incident in America, when counsel said the facts were that a patient died after 10 days' fasting. Defendant was prosecuted and sent to gaol, but there was such a storm of public disapproval that she was released. Colonel W. H. Hazard said that when be was receiving treatment defendant said she was not entitled to call herself doctor in New Zealand, but that she was entitled to do so in America. Dr. F. J. Rayner, another patient, said the diet consisted of tomato soup. Counsel said the pamphlet was published in America, and when she circulated it in New Zealand she did not take on the cover on which she described herself as doctor. Counsel said that in future defendant would be careful that none, of her papers referred to her as doctor, and the word " doctor " would be eliminated from the pamphlet. The magistrate said it would not be denied that osteopathy was a recognised method of treating certain ailments, but the law of New Zealand required that persons should have a long training before they could practice medicine or surgery. It was important that there should be a long training to enable a proper diagnosis to be made. No doubt defendant's 'treatment was excellent for functional disorders, buf if she happened to make a wrong diagnosis a patient might die. The pamphlet was a dancerous one for any person to circulate. The attack upon the medical profession was unworthy and likely to shake the confidence of "uneducated people m registered practitioners. The book ought to be burned. It was in defendant's favour that she told Colonel Hazard that she was not a doctor. She would be fined £5 and costs.