Women Seek Right To Have Own Doctor In Maternity Cases

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 September 1948, Page 7

Women Seek Right To Have Own Doctor In Maternity Cases

(P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Sept. 14 An amendment to the Social Security Act to provide for the right of an immediate appeal to the Minister of Health (Miss Howard) in the event of a hospital board or other body or person having control of a maternity hospital, refusing its concurrence in the selection by a beneficiary of the medical practitioner of her choice, was contained in a petition presented in the House of Representatives today. On behalf of Margaret Wilkinson Yardley, of Lower Hutt, and 28 others petitioners, who had selected Dr. H. G. Rix. of Hutt City, as medical practitioner by whom medical services in relationship to maternity benefits should be furnished, it was stated that it was of paramount importance that a beneficiary entitled to maternity benefits should have the unfettered right of selection of the doctor of her choice. They claimed that any right of veto of that choice given to a hospital board ,or other body or person having control of a maternity hospital, and receiving payment for such services from the public purse, should be examinable by some independent authority.

Petitioners asked for an enquiry by such body or tribunal as the Minister of Health thought fit, to be held into by the Wellington Hospital Board of its concurrence in the case of each of the petitioners in the selection of Dr. Rix.