"A RING OR A TRUST?"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2573, 22 September 1915, Page 3

"A RING OR A TRUST?"

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION "ATTACKED. ' Suggestions for legislative restraint upon the operations of the British Medical Association were made'by Mr. R. Flctcher in the House of Itepresenta-' tives yesterday.' He gave notice to ask .tho Minister of Internal Affairs if ho would amend the Medical Practitioners Act, 1914, in the interests of the welfare of, the general public of New Zealand, us follows: — "(1) To insert a clause to the effect that any applicant for registration as a medical practitioner in New Zealand, if his application has been rejected by tlie; Medical Board, shall be entitled to sit: for any 'prescribed examination; and, on passing such examination, provided'that he be of good moral character; and repute, he shall be entitled "to registration." ' This provision,, he explained, was made in. previous Acts and'there did not appear 'to be any reason for its deletion.

. "(2) To insert a clause making.it compulsory'for any Medical Practitioner registered and,practising in New Zealand to attend lii consultation when so required by any duly registered practitioner, provided that) a fee of not less than £1 Is. be tendered for, such consultation, failing which' that he be struck off the Medical Register and be not allowed to practice for a period of six months." "It is an acknowledged fact amongst the medical faculty ; in New Zealand,says Mr. Fletcher in a note, /'that cases have occurred wherein it is positively detrimental for a medical man to assert his independence of the British Medical Association in different- parts of the Dominion. Tho aforesaid association, having formed itself locally into a ring or trust, and having practically insisted in an agreement , with a'numerous 'section-of the public' that the association will only-' consult with those eligible for membership to it, is thereby a menace to the well being of public life, and the free practice of the medical profession. "(3) To include in an amending Act the widening of. the, University system by more fully assisting all Universities with medical schools lor the youth of New Zealand wlio desire to follow a medical course and further to nationalise our medical system."