ATTITUDE OF THE B.M.A.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVII, Issue 68, 22 February 1939, Page 3

ATTITUDE OF THE B.M.A.

FIRST DUTY TO PATIENTS. CHRISTCHURCH. Last night. “It is obvious that the medical profession must view the future with ome feelings of doubt and uneer•ainty. We are at the cross roads and should be prepared to fight for what we consider the best for our patients and for ourselves,” said the newlyappointed president of the New Zea>and branch of the British Medical Association, Mr P. Stanley Foster, commenting to-night at a reception to members of the branch attending ; ts biennial conference on problems •aised by the Social Security Act. “Our'first duty is to our patients, and we should assure the public of nur intention to give them the best possible service at all times, perhaps even in spite of social security, he said. “We may comfort ourselves with the knowledge that the services of good doctors are more indispensable now than ever they were.” The Social Security Act would make drastic changes in the work of the medical profession. How great these changes would be many people, medical or lay, did not realise, but it was safe to say that the whole type

of medical practice might he changed. It was only natural that any body of the community should view with some misgiving anything which would alter so completely their whole work. It was hard to get a clear judgment and perspective. It was clear that the profession must endeavor to maintain its standard of practice. As a whole the profession in New Zealand was outstandingly good and the public had been well served, even when payment had been doubtful. The profession was surely entitled to security and must be assured of it if high standards were to be maintained.