“PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1673, 10 February 1917, Page 3

“PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY.

HONORARY SURGEONS’ APPOINTMENTS. DISCUSSED BY THE HOSPITAL BOARD. [Manawatu Daily Times.] At Thursday’s meeting of the Distriet Hospital Board the chairman, Sir James Wilson, asked the Board’s approval of a jotter he had written on behalf of Dr. Belt to the President of the Military Sendee Board asking that Dr. Belt, who had been drawn in the ballot, should be exempted from military service until the return of Dr. Putnam, as there would otherwise be a shortage of doe!oi’s at the Hospital. Mr Hornblow said that in view of the scarcity of doctors he would move that Dr E. C. Barnett be appointed an honorary surgeon on the Hospital staff, lie said lie laid not been pre-cut when the honorary surgeon- had been appointed, bat he had beard that Dr. Barnett had applied for appointment and had been turned down. He had been surprised to bear it. He bad rung up Dr. Darnell to lind out if it were really so, and Dr. Barnett had coniirined the statement. Dr. Barnett was a man with a. big; practice, and he 1 bought it would he in the public intereM if he were added to the staff. The speaker had only met the doel or quite recently, lie he knew that he was a very busy man. In spite of this he was willing to go to the hospital to do what he could for the Board. Mrs Gill seconded the motion. The Chairman said that he was quite ignorant of Dr. Barnett s merits or othei’wise. He urged the Board to he very careful in making o decision. Dr. Barnett had not made application lor an honorary position at the Hospital —he had just applied in the ordinary way for appointment as a surgeon. Dr. Putnam would be coming back in Ala.ndi. and the speaker did not think it would, be fair to him to make the appointment until he returned. He thought that it would he wiser to wait until Dr. Putnam returned. lie understood that there was only one honorary member of the medical staff and that was Dr. Whitaker. Dr. Belt and Dr. Peach were paid. The operating stall would naturally resent the appointment. There was a feeling amongst the medical men about the position Dr. Barnett look up in Palmerston. He hoped the Board would not pass (he resolution without duly considering if. Mr L. R. Brya.nl said that lie would certainly support Air Hornhlow. He did not thin!: a (dose corporation he!ween (lie doctors in the (own should lie supported. Dr. Barnet I was a very able man. He had the largest practice in Palmerston North; and lie hade fair to follow in the steps of the late Dr. Martin. He naturally resented not being able to follow his eases into the Hospital. There were ’people who wanted Dr. .Barnett’s services who could not afford to go into private hospitals. Dr Barnett was a very skilful surgeon anil he had a very pleasing personality. Half the battle with patients was confidence in (lie doctor. lie thought (hat Dr. Barnett should he allowed entrance to the Hospital.

The Chairman: You would have to alter the whole rules of the Hospital. Mr Bryant: So much the heller. I very much deprecate the jealousy shown in tin* Hospital.

Mr Koi'itlilow said that as a, member of the Board he was very much surprised to hear that there was a personal feeling among the doctors, lie thought too highly of the medical men to believe that they would allow their persona! feelings to come before suffering humanity. The Board should not make the Hospital a convenience for certain medical men. Mrs Will said .-'.he did not see how Dr. Barnett's appointment could inter IV re with Dr. Putnam. The Chairman said that there was no [kiwi 1 )’ in the Board's regulations for an outside doctor to follow up a case as there was no rule permitting an outside man to send a ease into the Hospital. The patients laid never had the choice of what medical man should I real ( hem. The surgeons took the Hospital week on and week off, and they received treatment from whatever surgeon was on duty. He thought it undesirable that patients should be allowed to choose their doctor. Mrs Bill: 1 do not think the Board should have [mid doctors at the Hospital. The Chairman: The patients are not allowed to choose their doctors. They had to he taken by the doctors week about. There is no provision for honorary surgeons. The Secretavv: That is the rule.

.Mrs Gill: \\ hat made it the rule ?

The Chairman read the rule dealing with the mailer from ihe Hoard’s regulations, and continuing said that if Dr. Harnett were appointed it would disarrange the whole system. To his mind Dr Putnam was equal to any man who had come to New Zealand, and certainly lo Palmerston North. If’ the Hospital Board thought otherwise it would have tlie opportunity of expressing itself on his return. To admit Dr. BaruMt, it would he necessary to alter the Board's byla Vs.

Mr*H. Smart said that the meeting had mu the power to overcome the by-laws and the discussion was out of order. He thought the Board should push on to obtain n resident surgeon and that it should give every doctor u chance of an honorary position.

The secretary produced a letter from the Inspector-General of Public Health, Dr. Valin tine, previously submitted to the Board, requesting the Board to make only temporary appointments to important positions during the war period. The Chairman said he thought there was very little chance of getting a resident surgeon during the war period, but he hoped the time would arrive when a resident sui’geon would be procurable. Mr Hornblow said the InspectorGeneral’s letter referred to the appointment of a. resident superintendent. There seemed to be a professional boycott. The Board was losing its grip on the Hospital. There appeared to be some mysterious reason why Dr. Barnett should be kept out, and he intended to sift the matter out. The Chairman said that he was afraid that he would have to rule the discussion out of order. The question was really whether the Board would approve of his action in writing a letter asking for the exemption of Dr. Bctt until Dr. Putnam’s ret urn.

T’he Board’s approval of the chairman's action was given.

Mr Homhlow: “Will you take my motion now, or will you take it later I” The Chairman: “I am afraid I will have to rule the discussion out of order.” Air Homhlow: “Out of respect for you I will give notice of motion, but I will make thorough investigations, I can promise you that.”

Mr Bryant: “If you knew the feeling there is between the doctors in the town you would know that we are not: getting the best services be-

cause of professional jealousy.”