UPHELD ON APPEAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 4

UPHELD ON APPEAL

COr<VICTION OF U.S. MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ON CHARGE OF ANTI-TRUST VIOLATION. INTERFERENCE WITH GROUP HEALTH SCHEME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WASHINGTON, June 15. The Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the conviction of the American Medical Association on a charge of violating the anti-trust laws when the A.M.A. interfered in the operations of a group health association, the members of which make monthly payments and receive the necessary medical treatment without further fees. The Court said, “Profound changes in 'the social and economic conditions have forced the members of all professional groups to make readjustments; in fact, these changes may result in depriving professional people of the opportunity which was formerly open to them for the unjustified or excused use of criminal methods to preventchanges or to destroy new institutions. The better educated laity today questions the adequacy of the present-day medicine, and their challenge finds support from substantial portions of the medical profession itself. The people gave the privilege of a professional monopoly, and the people may take it The A.M.A. announced ' that' a writ of certiorari will be applied for immediately. The first trial of the A.M.A. on this charge began in February,' 1941. The Government laid a charge that the medical association tried to use its' immense prestige to prevent doctors joining the group health co-operative to prevent other doctors from consulting a group of physicians, and to : bar a group of physicians from Washington hospitals.