THE PROPOSED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5126, 28 August 1877, Page 3

THE PROPOSED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BILL.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —It is probable that a very large number of your readers are unaware of the mischievous tendency of a provision in the Medical Practitioners Bill introduced into the House of Assembly by Mr. Hamlin, and I propose, with your permission, to call attention to the Bill, so that our, legislators may not commit the error of allowing it to pass as printed. The wording of the clause to which I wish to direct •attention is as :—“ If any person, not being, registered with a medical qualification, shall practise medicine .... for gain, upon summary conviction shall pay a sum of fifty pounds.” These words are, to be found with others in the 28th clause, and are worthy the consideration of a very largo number of persons. Beading the Bill as it stands it does not appear to have any very bad tendency ; but if the words quoted are studied, it will prove that for every simple ailment any person afflicted must consult a registered practiti< mer, and will not be able to avail himself as hitherto of the services of a chemist and druggist, and consequently will he compelled to pay a high price for what he could get cheaply if this proviso were not law. To chemists and druggists the Bill will inflict a serious injury, as they will be unable to advise customers whether jalap is a proper medicine to use for removing constipation, or if rhubarb and magnesia would be hurtful or otherwise to a child suffering from quo of the common infantile complaints. In . fact chemists will have to content themselves to aet as mere retailers of drugs,and dare not, under a penalty of £6O, say whether a medicine is hurtful or not. That the public generally will suffer, from such class legislation, is evident, as in many distrietsin the colony medical men are scarce, and people go to the nearest chemist to obtain his advice and remedies for any simple complaint they may be troubled with. But this will all be changed should Mr. Hamlin’s Bill become law, and patients must suffer un-

'relieved, or travel, in some case as much as twenty miles, to obtain advice. I object as much as Mr.. Hamlin can to unregistered practitioners taking upon themselves the duties of properly qualified medical - men; but it is. apparent that his Bill goes much further, and would throw into the hands of registered practitioner all . the power of dealing with the most simple disorders, and prevent chemists and druggists from prescribing any remedy, even for such a thing a chilblain, or the toothache. The Bill etates that nothing in it shall prejudice chemists or druggists so far as relates to selling medicines ; but as they sell for gain they dare not say what effects the drugs they sell may have. A some-; what similar Bill to Mr. Hamlin’s was introduced into the House of Commons in May by Dr. Lush, the said Bill having been drawn up by the solicitor of the Medical Defence Association of England, and it contained the words “who shall practise medicine or surgery for gain.’’ It was seen in England that this was an attempt to force the people to consult registered men on every occasion of feeling the want of medicine, and this was pointed out to Dr. Lush, the introducer of the Bill, and he at once saw the objectionable nature of the clause, and stated that he had no intention to attack chemists, and would withdraw the Bill, for the purpose of excising the words complained of. This he did, and the Bill was reintroduced into the House of Commons, with the objectionable words expunged. If it were not advisable to prevent people in England from obtaining simple remedies at a nominal cost from dispensers of medicine, where medical men are in abundance, it surely is not necessary here, where medical assistance is often scarce in thinly-populated districts to be more conservative. Let Mr. Hamlin seek to prevent unqualified persons from practising as qualified men, and he will do good; but to compel people of scanty means to call in a doctor for every little ailment will seriously injure a number of respectable tradesmen, and at the same time will not benefit those he may wish to serve. I believe .it needs only to be known that such a Bill as Mr. Hamlin’s is iu progress through the House of Assembly to cause members to reflect before they give their assent to a measure that will press unduly hard on many settlers in ’ outlying districts.—l am, &c., ■■■ Justice.