DOCTORS’ CERTIFICATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25277, 14 July 1943, Page 2

DOCTORS’ CERTIFICATES

ACCURACY QUESTIONED COMPLAINTS BY EMPLOYERS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 13. The accuracy of several certificates furnished by two doctors on the health of employees of his firm was questioned by Mr C. L. Veron, a representative of Amalgamated Batteries, Ltd., when he appeared before the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Christchurch. Monthly medical inspections of the staff were carried out, said Mr Veron, and records were kept of the health of all employees. One of his men had recently applied for release from the firm’s employ, on medical grounds. A medical certificate of his health, signed by a doctor, had declared him to be “rapidly losing weight, and suffering from anaemia,” Mr Veron said. Reference to the medical records of the man held by the firm showed thatthe employee had not lost a pound in weight for months, and that he had the highest haemoglobin blood percentage in the factory.

Another case cited was that of a man who produced a doctor’s certificate stating that he was suffering from a certain ailment. The doctor in regular attendance on the firm’s employees could find no trace of this particular complaint. The sequel to this difference of medical, opinion came some weeks later, when the doctor who had diagnosed the complaint in the man pronounced him cured, Mr Veron said. Mr Veron’s only comment on this case was that it was a “ pretty quick cure " for the disease mentioned. Mr Barnett, chairman of the board, expressed concern at the state of affairs outlined by Mr Veron, and said he thought it was Mr Veron’s duty to the public to investigate the position. Commenting to-day on Mr Veron’s statement, Mr R. T. Alston, secretary of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, said: “The position Is not as serious as it has been, but at the same time there is ample evidence available—evidence which has been supplied to the Cabinet—of cases where medical certificates have been given which on the face of them are of a doubtful nature." Mr Alston, speaking both as secretary of the Manufacturers’ Association and as an official of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, said there were far too many instances of employees who had applied for leave either to be absent or to relinquish their positions and who had been refused, arriving at work with medical certificates which did not refer to the medical condition of the person involved, but which suggested either that the work they were doing was too heavy or that the conditions in the factory were not suitable. “ The federation suggested some months ago.” Mr Alston said, “ that where manufacturers have grave doubts as to the reliability of the facts disclosed in medical certificates, the man-power officer should be authorised to refer the persons concerned to a special board, which could then examine the employees and give an independent opinion.” , . The’ British Medical Association had done all in Its power to check loose and false certification. If proof of a false certificate were presented to the association it would, through the General Medical Council, take prompt action against an offender, said the president of the Canterbury branch of the British Medical Association, Dr E. R. Reay. “ Not one case has been presented,” Dr Reay said. “ Instead there are vague mutterings from various interested bodies.*’ Admitting that some bad certificates had been given. Dr Reay said that the remedy was in the hands of the industrialists themselves to employ competent men who were conversant with the industrial conditions in their factories.