MEDICAL MEN AT VARIANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 438, 3 October 1908, Page 3

MEDICAL MEN AT VARIANCE.

A Scathing Resolution.

Auckland, October 2

A meeting of medical men who are not members of the British Medical Association was held last night, primarily to consider the action of the Association in fixing the minimum fees under which its members are allowed to undertake Friendly Societies’ practice at 16s per member per annum for medical attendance alone. Some medical men had taken Friendly Societies at a lower rate, and the Association had refused to allow its members to meet them in consultation or in operations. Other methods were also taken by the Association to express disapproval of the lowering of fees. The meeting was attended by nine medical men, and they passed a resolution declaring the action of the Association to be illogical, unBritish, savouring of childishness, and reeking with “ envy, hatred, malice and all uucharitableuess.” Further, they consider it is the duty of every practitioner to succour and help to the best of his skill and ability all who urgently and of necessity require such skill. It was resolved to form a union of medical men, “ the fundamental principle of which shall be liberty of thought with no bar to admission to any individual so long as he or she has not become liable to the law of the Dominion,” and also to convey thanks to those chemists and nurses who had preserved a neutral attitude, though threatened and bullied by the Auckland branch of the Medical Association. Reply by the Association. The official reply of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association to the statements ol non-members aboutan alleged boycott is that the statements are manifestly misleading and incorrect. A direct denial is given to the assertion that nurses, chemists, or dispensers are in any way coerced. The association says that in any real emergency it has always held that a patient’s interest should take precedence of any other consideration. The members of the association claim the right as individuals against being coerced into cousulations they object to.