WAR DISABILITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18089, 13 May 1922, Page 10

WAR DISABILITIES.

QUESTION OF RECOGNITION.

THE D.G.M.S. CRITICISED. [BX T£LEGEAPH. —PRKSB ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHTOCH. Friday. What was termed t'he reluctance of tho Director-General of Medical Service* to recogniso tho fact that in certain cases returned soldiers' disabilities were due to war service was severely criticised by the provincial conference of the Returned Soldiers' Association to-night. It was resolved ; " That the attention of the British Medical Association, tho Prime Minister, the Minister for Defence, and tho Minister in chargo of war pensions bo drawn to the attitude of the D.G.M.3. in constantly ignoring tho signed statements of medical men tracing the disabilities of returned soldiers to their war services. This executive con siders that the conviction of a doctor who has carefully examined the patient should be worthy of more consideration than it at present is given. Cases have occurred where two doctors have agreed that a breakdown is directly attributable tojwar sorvico, but the D.G.M.S. has stated that such opinion was valuablo in only so far as it showed tho soldier's present state of health,, thus ignoring their opinion as to the primary cause. That the Dominion conference bo asked to constitute itself a deputation to the Ministers mentioned to emphasise the grave view the association takes of the matter."