STATE AND PROFESSIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 927, 21 March 1930, Page 10

STATE AND PROFESSIONS

Sir, — The sentiments reported to have been expressed at a recent dinner of the dental profession are rather surprising. As professional men, credited with certain educational attainments, doctors, lawyers and dentists should be aware of the direction in which social evolution is proceeding. Throughout the world, with only occasional setbacks, the State is enlarging the scope of, and increasing the efficiency of. its undertakings. This is an evolutionary process which can be impeded, but cannot be prevented, by any body of men, professional or otherwise. The time will come when medical service will be controlled by the State. At present, the more ill a man is and the less able to earn his living, the more he is expected to pay for medical attention. There is no logic in that, and inevitably in extreme cases the scheme breaks down. The only reasonable system is that medical attention for the sick should be paid for by the healthy, and this is c nly possible under State control. That there are difficulties in the way of such, development is not denied, but the chief difficulty is the British Medical Association, which is doing so much for suffering humanity. j.r>. '