MINISTER AND B.M.A.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3159, 10 August 1917, Page 5

MINISTER AND B.M.A.

QUESTION OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION.

In yesterday's issue, Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, was reported as having stated that ho had not yet received a reply to his letter to the British Medical Association asking if twenty doctors could bo supplied for the purpose uf making an early examination or members of the Second Division, and that being tho caso ho could make no announcement on tho pGint. Respecting this statement the officers of the association have made the following announcement :— . "No communication has been received by the B.M.A. from Sir James Allen in respect of 20 additional doctors for Medical Boards for examination of the Second Division men. The British Medical Association knows nothing more about it than has appeared in the Press. On the other hand, Bince January last, the British Medical Association haa been trying to obtain recognition by the Defence Department of an Advisory Board for the offer of which the Defence Minister has repeatedly thanked the association, but donied necessity for any such board, as far as his Department is concerned. He now throws the blame of tho delay and holding up of the examinations upon the association, which has absolutely no voice or responsibility in tho matter, much to its Tegret. "Owing to tho haphazard method in which tho military • authorities have called up the medical men in the past, iand aro continuing in the same unsatisfactory way, tho scarcity of medical men is becoming a matter for concern, even lo tho Defence authorities, and it is manifestly unfair now to throw the blame upon tho association, which, recognising tho present troubio long ago, lias been battling to forestall it and introduce some method and system, and so far all in vain. So long as the Defence Department could get men voluntarily, they did so, till now nearly 300 doctors out of tho original 750 have been called up by tho military services. To now suddenly call for 20 more, and throw the responsibility of getting them on the 8.M.A., whereas before we consulted, is putting the association in an unfair Tight, which its members much resent."