MEDICAL BE FIT REGULATIONS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21361, 2 June 1939, Page 5

MEDICAL BE FIT REGULATIONS

To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald •• Sir,—There must have been thousands of people, who, when they read some of the regulations governing medical benefits in the Social Security scheme, wondered if we were living in a country governed by unbalanced men. For instance, would anyone in their pi-oper senses even suggest that a doctor should not be called in to a patient “between 6 p.m. any day and 8 a.m. of the following day; or on any Sunday or pu'Tic holiday”? Yet these rules are actually put forward by our Health Department as being about to be put into operation. Further, what an insult th't the record of an expectant mother must be open to inspection by the Medical Officer of Health! Surely we have all had enough red-tape officialdom tb”’rt on us lately to know what it means, and an expectant mother is the las', person who should be worried by lists of questions to be .nswered. Then, as if this "’ere not enough in—lt, women are actually to be threatened “not only with penalty, but with legal proceedings” if they do not comply with these rules and regulations. Again, I say, are we being governed by unbalanced men? Do they think this will encourage an Increase in our birthrate? I leave that for the women to answer. All honour to the medical men, who, rather than accept easier hours, are battling bravely, particularly for the sake of the women, against these iniquitous regulations. Wrmen of New Zealand in your own interests, wake up, and thrnkful’y r-pport the —I am, etc., COMMON SENSE. Timaru, May 31.