“DISTORTED PICTURE”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25801, 23 March 1945, Page 4

“DISTORTED PICTURE”

PROFESSION TRADUCED INTEGRITY OF DOCTORS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 22. The following statement was issued to-night by Dr E. H. M. Luke, chairman of the council of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association: — “ The distorted picture of the medical services in this country given in two recent Australian reports has caused great indignation among New Zealand doctors. The British Medical Association has consistently opposed the present Government’s medical scheme because it so clearly envisaged the very defects of which the foreign statements make so much. At the moment, the merits and demerits of the existing order are beside the point. The integrity of a professional body, which has faithfully performed its duties under prolonged stress, is called into question by sweeping and inaccurate statements quite incapable of general application. “ That a few take advantage of the present situation to enrich themselves at the expense of clinical efficiency does not alter the fact that the great majority of the doctors of New Zealand pursue their calling with skill, devotion, and a full knowledge of their responsibilities. It is quite erroneous to suggest that all doctors accept the Government system and exploit the Social Security Fund. Most do not.

“It is possible for a doctor with a shrewd business head to make £BOOO in one year out of the social security services, but only three in the country have that business capacity. The rest are preoccu-

pied with tlieir professional work.

“ The depletion of members due to the exigencies of the war—one-third of the New Zealand doctors are overseas—and the increase of work due to military boarding and certification have forced nearly all the doctors to restrict attendances and not to increase them. Neither, on the whole, is it true to suggest that patients have to any significant extent made frivolous calls for attendance. In general, the position is well understood, and the members of the public are as considerate as possible in seeking medical attention.

“Dr Dark’s statement that hospital out-patient treatment is primitive is absurd. In general, our hospital boards effectively deal with the vastly increased responsibilities which the war has placed on them, and the standard of clinical work in New Zealand hospitals is maintained by most of the senior specialists in the country. Hospital conditions compare favourably with those in any part of the Empire. All Dr Dark’s inaccurate remarks are made to further his advocacy of a State-salaried medical service. This we join with the Australian B.M.A. in vigorously opposing. - “It is no new thing that has befallen the medical profession here and elsewhere,” the statement adds. “The past can show many examples that when doctors are fighting a pestilence —in this case totalitarianism in medicine—some of them are certain to catch the disease.”