AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3812, 30 June 1928, Page 2

AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC

WHAT A DOCTOR THINKS OF THE B.M.A.

Auckland, June 29. “I am not a member of the British Medical Association, nor am I on speaking terms with many of them; but from what I see of them in their cars there is not too much of the milk of human kindness nbout them. I am not blaming individual members at all. I blame the system, which is at fault.” This statement was made at a public meeting at Auckland last night by Dr. E. S. Dukes, his address being advertised as “Medical Ignorance and Worse.” Dr. Dukes severely criticised the methods of the 8.M.A., which he characterised as a huge trade union. He was inclined to agree with Oliver Wendel Holmes, who had said that if all doctors and drugs were thrown into the sea it would be better for the world. Sir James Barr, who was president of the B.M.A. in England in 1027, had said that surgeons made their living out of the ignorance and the utter incompetence of physicians, medical science had been long at a standstill, and that disease was more prevalent to-day than half a century ago. Dr. Dukes then said that doctors should be paid by results, and in cases of death should be compelled to pay funeral expenses. Without health, he said, life was a burden and doctors had failed. All the medical men set out to do was to make money. Fashions in medicine had changed without lessening the death-rate. Medicine was a business and there were too many temptations put in the way of doctors.

After answering a number of questions, and a suggestion had been made by a member of the audience that a society should be formed with members included who were not attached to (lie 8.M.A., Dr. Dukes was accorded a vote of thanks.