CANCER RESEARCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23621, 3 April 1940, Page 13

CANCER RESEARCH

DUTIES OP REGISTRAR REPLY TO CRITICISM CHAIRMAN STATES POSITION "By tho very nature of the subject, the statement of the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, calls for littlo comment," said tho chairman of the Auckland Division of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, Sir Ernest Davis, when referring yesterday to a criticism by Mr. Moody of an earlier statement by Sir Ernest announcing tho appointment of Dr. Howard Gaudin, of Auckland, as registrar and part-time research officer to the division. Sir Ernest had mentioned that, as part of his duties, Dr. Gaudin would visit every cancer patient in tho Auckland Hospital and keep accurate records of each case for tho guidance of the consultation committee of the division. Hospital Chairman's Attitude Mr. Moody had said that tho hospital authorities viewed with considerable alarm and misgiving such a statement, owing to the possibility of frightening patients unnecessarily. Ho said ho would prefer in cases of this description that the matter should be referred to the medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, Dr. J. W. Craven, before statements were published. "The facts are clear, and they should have been known to Mr. Moody," said Sir Ernest yesterday. "The Auckland division of the society is a responsible body, and, by its direction, as chairman, I made the announcement of tho appointment of tho registrar to the consultation committee. Tho finance from which this post is to bo paid on a part-time basis was raised by public subscription throughout Auckland Province. In tho opinion of the executive, the public was entitled to know how portion of that money was being applied, pending the establishment of tho permanent Statistical Research Bureau. Fine Service to Community "It was considered to be appropriate also that an indication be given of the nature of the duties to be carried out by the registrar. Therefore, I can see no justification for the general complaint of Mr. Moody, and I have yet to learn that there is a liability upon me, when making a public statement, to submit it beforehand to the medical superintendent ol Auckland Hospital. "In its own unostontatous way, the Cancer Campaign Society is performing a fine service to the community and, as"the whole basis of the appointment in question is hope, and not fear, the chairman of the board would have been much better advised in the interests of patients had he refi'ained froin commenting in the manner be did."