Troubles of a Lady Doctor.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 270, 6 June 1888, Page 6

Troubles of a Lady Doctor.

Tukkf ib in 'Melbourne a lady practitioner, Dr. Laura Morgan, who has been steadily, but as yet \ainly, Becking 1 to obtain a legal statu". Shortly after Miss Morgan's ai iiv.il in Victoria, two years ago, she presented diplomas to the Medical Board which, she contended, qualitied her to be entered on the roll of medical practitioner.^. She alleged that these documents proved that she had studied for three >cars at the Women's Medical College, New York Inlirmary, and that as she had fulfilled the conditions imposed by the Medical l'ractitionois Statute of having ' passed through a regular medical course ot not less than three years' duiation ' in a recognised school of medicine, she was entitled to practice. The Board, however, refused to grant her application unless she produced certified copies of her diploma and other college papers. Thcs i she obtained and submitted. She asserts that the Board discussed them in private, and that on being 1 recalled into the Board-room she found all the member* cone except Or. Youl, who informed her that some formula had to be gone through prior to registration, but that she could put up her plate and practise her profession. (Tailing on further application to secure registration, she applied first to Mr Scrvu c and then to Sir Graham Berry, both of whom promised to investigate her claim. The resignation of Mr Service and the appointment of Sir Graham Berry as Agent-General romovod these gentlemen from ofiice, and she had to lay her case before Mr Dcakin. To that gentleman she represented that she was either suffering an injustice or committing a breach of the law. She pointed out that by issuing 1 cards that she was qualified to practise in Victoria she rendered herself liable, if she had no legal right to do so, to imprisonment for a term of three yoars, while for using a door-plato she could be fined £50. She asked to be rolieved of further suspense in the matter. Mr Deakin has since discussed tho matter with the Medical Board, and signified to them Wio course which ho thinks should bo adopted. His proposals, which are at present regarded as of a private charactcr,are to be discussed by tho Board. '