DOCTORS AND DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23887, 15 August 1939, Page 8

DOCTORS AND DEFENCE

So little has been heard of the medical aspect of preparations for the defence of New Zealand in a possible time of crisis that it might have been thought.that this vitally important subject was being neglected by the authorities. That this is far from being the case is indicated in an article which we reprint this morning from the current issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal. It will not surprise the public to discover, at this seemingly late stage, that the most complete plans have already been made on lines that will admit of the fullest co-operation of the medical profession with the military and civil authorities in the event of a state of war existing within the country. A decision reached in June last by the Council of the Medical Association, meeting in Wellington, conforms with the highest traditions of the profession. It was to the effect that the Government should be informed that the association would undertake to make available the services of all its members for the purpose of national defence. What is of peculiar interest, however, is that the profession has been officially involved in defence preparations, in anticipation of a demand for its services, over a much longer period. The National Medical Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Organisation for National Security, was formed in 1936, and we are now informed that since that time it has deliberated extensively, although its decisions and recommendations, for what are described as "obvious reasons," have not been made public and actually are withheld from the rank and file of the profession itself. Its functions are epitomised as follows: To provide for the medical examination of recruits, for the care of the sick and wounded of the forces, and for the organisation of medical services for the care of the civilian population in any state of emergency. Provision, it will be seen, is thus being made on the most comprehensive scale possible, on the military side through the already established medical units, and on the civilian side in accordance with plans which seem to have been fully matured by the National Medical Committee. There is the definite statement that a " carefully conceived plan for dealing with the medical aspects of a national emergency " does exist, and there is the further statement, of which the public is certain to be properly appreciative, that the doctors as individuals are pledged to serve the State in the event of such an occurrence. This attitude, perhaps, was to be anticipated in a professional body which has invariably shown its consciousness of high public responsibilities. But to have it thus emphasised while the duty of preparedness : ~ necessarily being heavily accented gives cause for the deepest satisfaction.