RETURNED SOLDIERS’ HEALTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 10

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ HEALTH

EFFECTS OF WAR SERVICE. , . 1 i DOCTOR’S CERTIFICATE IGNORED. Action of d.g.m.s. resented. \ - \ « -■ --■ ■«■■■ (Pis Durm) Press Association,) r. CHRISTCHURCH, May 5. .L The attitude of the Director-General of Medical Services, in refuting to accept ille espomigdiity for returned soldiers who bad K broken - down in health two or three years •' ’.fter their discharge, was discussed fully /■, it the meeting of the executive of the ; .tferistchfdrCh Returned Soldiers’ Association. several specific oases were mentioned where y the men had obtained certificates from doctors. expressing . the opinion that their i’- breakdowns were due to war service, and ■ the-eertifioates were ignored by the Defence Department. _ • , The following remit was passed for con- ; aideration at the annual district conference : ‘i ; “That the attention of the British Mcdie cal Association be drawn to the attitude <4-±be- Director-General, of'Medical Services • in ’'' constantly ignoring the sighed state- - jment?6f medical, men, tracing the disabilities ; .of- ■ returned solders to their .war service. This executive .considers that the convic- ■ iioif of 5 "a. 'doctor who has carefully exeytinod the- patient should be worthy of ' ' more consideration than is at present given. 7 Cases have occurred where two doctors ' agreed that the breakdown is, directly ;f. attributable to .war service, but the Direc- ■ tor-General of Medical Services has stated t)»t '.such opinion was valuable only in ! . Kr'iar & it showed the soldier’s present ; state of health, thus ignoring their opinion ’ as to the primary cause.” SO •