MEDICAL ETIQUETTE.

NZ Truth, Issue 118, 21 September 1907, Page 6

MEDICAL ETIQUETTE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Noticing an article m your paper headed "Medical Etiquette," also some strong remarks made -fti the Legislative Council by the Hon. T. X*. Macdonald m reply to expressions made by the Hon. Mr Barr with respect to the medical profession, brings to my mind an experience which was not very creditable to one at least of the medical fraternity. There are, I know, good, kind, considerate and conscientious men m the profession, and they no- doubt form the larger majority ; but, as the Hon. Mr Barr says, there are some "black sheep" amongst them, as you will find m all trades and professions. The case I mention below occurred m a small township m the colony, where only one doctor resided ; audit unfortunately turned out a serious matter for those concerned. It was an accouchement case, m which the doctor had not been engaged, simply because on previous occasions, when one had been engaged, he Was never m time, and everything passed off satisfactory without him ; and the parents were not so flush of money as to be able to throw, it away. On the occasion referred to, however, trouble occurred, and the doctor of the place was applied to to attend, and although at home, he declined to do so, and it was only on the third or fourth time of asking, with a threat of prosecution should anything serious happen, that he thought proper to attend. His only excuse was that he had not been properly engaged beforehand. This is, I presume, so-called medical etiquette. The ■ result was— no doubt owing to the delay m the attendance of the medical man — the loss of the child's life and very nearly that of its mother's— in fact I hold the opinion that it was through that the mother .became an invalid, and is likely to remain so for the remainder of her life. There was nor thing said as to payment, as that was assured, the only excuse being, as I said before, that he was not properly engaged beforehand ; and on settlement the doctor charged, and was paid, double the usual fee. It is such men as these who spoil the reputation of a profession and who deserve punishment. Other instances not creditable to members of the [profession have come under m,y notice. I can, therefore,, sympathise with the Hon. Mr Barr m his endeavor to bring about a better state of things medically, as medical attendance, like law, is too expensive to be played with by suoh as Yours truly, PATER. Sept.; '16, 1907-