THE MEDICAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2586, 7 October 1915, Page 6

THE MEDICAL SERVICE

SAFEGUARDS FOR REGISTRATION.

Tho questions regarding ■ medicai' praotitioners asked by Mr. S,; Fletcher, nero answered yesterday by tho Minister of Internal Affiurs (the Hon., G. W. Russell). Mr. Fletcher first desired to know whether the Minister would introduce a Bill to . amend, thi*' Medical Practitioners Act; 1914, and insert ■ a clause to the effect that any applicant for registration' as a medical practitioner ia Now Zealand, if his application haa been by the 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, ha sltoU be .entitled to registration. The Minister replied as follows to this question,'' and' threo others^ "I; am of opinion that 'there is 110 necessity to bring in legislation as suggested by the honourable member, aa the Act provides ample powers for any, qualified person who has been refused registration to appeal to the Supreme Court. :■. ::

(2) "The question regarding consultation is one upon which I hold proriounced views. My opinion is' that no medical practitioner is justified in refusing to ineet in consultation another praotitoner, provided a' reasonable fee is ten. dered for his services. •, This remai'k applies with even greater forco to small towns, where practitioijiers are necessarily few .in number. Medical men enjoy the protection of the law, -and should regard themselves—and I believe mostly do regard • themselves—as servants of. the public, whoso services should under all reasonable . circumstances bo available. , During the recess I'proposo.to make inquiries, on this" matter, and, if necessity exists, I 1 will consider the desirability of dealing with it next session. —

(3) "I'do not regard it as practicable to establish medical schools at'all "the university: colleges of the Dominion. The principle of specialisation, under ivhich the Otago University College is specialised' as- a medical institution, is' working well, and I think it would be-a mistake, at any rate for some yearß to come, to establish other medical schools in the, Dominion.

(4) ' 'The proposal to nationalise our medical system opens up too vast, a subject to be at present within the .scope of practical politics."