MEDICAL STUDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24894, 16 May 1944, Page 7

MEDICAL STUDY

SELECTION METHODS OTAGO COUNCIL'S SCHEME A scheme for the selection of secondyear medical students for admission to Otago University was detailed in a letter from the registrar, Mr. H. Chapman, received at a meeting of the Auckland University College Council yesterday. The letter pointed out that it had not been' possible for the university during the last few years to accept all the candidates who applied for admission to the second year classes in medicine, and during that period students had been finally accepted on the results of the intermediate examination.

Last February, the letter stated, a conference was held in Wellington at the request of the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. 1?. Mason, to discuss the question of medical education, and the view was expressed that in the •selection of medical entrants consideration should be given to questions of character and medical fitness, as well as scholastic attainments. The matter had been considered by the council, and it was decided to set up a committee to report to the council as to the character and- medical fit ness of candidates who are in attendance at Otago University in 1911, or have completed the medical intermediate examination as students of the university. 'lt was also decided that, the governing bodies of the Auckland, Victoria and Canterbury University Colleges should be each requested to set up a committee to report to the Otago council as to the character and medical fitness of candidates. After considering the reports of the committees, the Otago council would decide whether any candidates should be refused admission on the grounds mentioned.

It was stated in the letter that, after the elimination of any candidates adjudged unsatisfactory, candidates would be accepted in accordance with the 10lJowing priorities, subject in all cases to the approval of the National Service Department:—(l) Students who have passed the qualifying examination and whose university courses have been seriously interfered with by war sei ~ vice. (2) Registered medical students who have completed one year's attendance in the second year classes in the medical school, but who have not passed the annual terms examination, provided they are approved lor readmission bv the council on t he recommendation of the Medical Faculty, after full consideration of the students 0 academic record. (3) Graduates oi the University ot' New Zealand who have passed the examinations qualilving lor admission to the Medical School. (4) Candidates who have passed the medical intermediate examination, selected in order of merit on the results of that examination.

When the letter was received by the Auckland council yesterday, the Hon. B. Martin, M.L.C., naked whether the accommodation shortage at Otago could not be overcome, even it only by temporary means. It was a tragedy if doctors could not be trained to-day just because there was not sufficient accommodation.

Mr. L. K. Monro pointed out that the matter had been the subject oi vigorous controversy for some time. There were many cross-currents, staled the president, Mr. W. H. Cocker. All of them would he discussed in detail by the medical committee next Tuesday. The letter was referred to the medical committee for a report to the next meeting of the council.