A DOCTOR'S CURES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 136, 25 June 1937, Page 12

A DOCTOR'S CURES

Bias Alleged in Conduct of Cases FORMAL COMPLAINT LONDON, May 26. Two years after he had been plaeed on probation for alleged unprofessional conduct, Dr William Mervyn Crofton, of Park Square, Regent's Park, who had claimed to be able to cure blindness and remove tuberculosis, was vindicated by the General Medical Council. On May 30, 1935, the council had suspended judgment for two years after finding proved an allegation that Dr Crofton had advertised to obtain patients or "sanctioned publication of uotices directing attention to his per•sonal skill." When the council announced that it had decided not to eiase his name from th^ register, Dr' Crofton walked across the council chamber holding a doeu* ment. Facing the president, Sir Norman Walker, he said: "'Then I am professionally a free man?,; "Yes," replied Sir Norman. Dr Crofton thereupon handed the document to tho registrar, at the same time expostulating to the president, "1 am putting in a formal complaint of your conduct of my case. You have exhibited bias. " The doctor was then approached by his solicitor, who whispered in his ear, rtnd they both left the chamber. His case was before the council only a few minutes. Three letters from medical men were Tead, which testified • to Dr Crofton 's conduct during the two ; years he had been on probation. The 1 council reached its decision after a brief jdiscussion in oamera. Original Hearing ; ! Three allegations were made against Dr Crofton at the original hearing — that at a meeting of ophthalmic opttcians in London in November, 1934, he I'^made claims of an extravagant nature jas to the benefits likely to result if the jmethod of therapeutic immunisation {practised by him were generally prac- • tised"; that he eulogised the treatment ;in a press interview, and that he had thereby "advertised" to promote his professional advahtage. During ^a dramatie cross-examination jat the first hearing he was asked these gTiestions and gave these answers: — Did you Claim you gave sight to fchl blind? — I did, and I do. Did you claim you can reduce mater> nal mortality by 90 per cent? — I did, and I do." End the scourge of tuberculosis?— I did, and I can. Did you claim to cure sleepy-sickness ! —I can. Common colds and a host of other illuesses'?— Perfectlv true, proVided they i&re microbic. I claim it for the method, |the method, the method all the time. ' A friend said after the council 's deicision was Announced: "During the two •years whieh elapsed since; Dr Crofton Ifirst appeared before the council he has . •passed . through the most harrowing • iperiod of his career. "With an ever-present Bpectre con* fronting him, he has carried on his practice. , paily he has gone to see his patients, and at home he has carried out still further experiments with his vaccines in his oWn laboratory. "Every patient has stood by him to a man, but perhaps his most constant helpmate has been his wife. "He Was joined in his praCtice last year by his son, Dr Jphn Crofton, who qualified ' from London University. ,fThe doctor is, I believe, a man who looks far ahead of his time. He is certainly an individualist, and pursues his own line of treatment. '*It is a great felief to him that the council has f ound iu his favour and that he will be able to continue work With tho knowledge that he remains a fully accredited member of his prof essioh. "