AMERICAN DOCTORS OPPOSE NATIONAL HEALTH SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 5

AMERICAN DOCTORS OPPOSE NATIONAL HEALTH SCHEME

NZPA—Copyright Rec 9 p.m. WASHINGTON, May 26. The American Medical Association to-day branded President Truman’s national health plan “ compulsory paternalism” that had no place in the American wa v of life. Testifying before the Sqpate Labour Sub-commit-tee, Dr Louis Bauer, a member of the association’s Board of Trustees, said any health plan containing uniform compulsory nation-wide features and depending on tax to finance it was unacceptable in principle. Dr Bauer said health insurance was definitely the answer to the medical problems of most people, but it should be voluntary. The American Medical Association is backing voluntary insurance proposals. However, Dr Channing Frothingham, a Boston physician and chairman of the Committee for the Nation's Health, told the sub-committee that he had heard from a number of colleagues saying they approved of the Truman plan, “ but they do not dare speak out for fear of retaliations,” he said. . . The American Dental Association opposed the Government proposals before the House Commerce Sub-com-mittee.