THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1909. A QUESTION OF LICENSE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3144, 23 March 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1909. A QUESTION OF LICENSE.

The "New Zealand Times," commenting on the case of Dr. Goode, remarks"He was a violent and dangerous character who habitually carried'ftrerams to the public peril. Obviously the police both at Waitara and New Plymouth were aware of the violent and dangerous character of this man. It would be interesting to know whether-any Tepresentation was made to heafl-'quarters as to his condtion with a view to his arrest as a lunatic, and, -if not, why not! This is a matter which closely concerns the Medical Association. It is manifestly prejudicial to the profession that lunatics, (drug victims, and drunkards should hold licenses to kill or cure If the Medical Association were given legislative authority to bring medical men before the Supreme Court to show cause why their diplomas should not be cancelled, the public would have some protection against practitioners of the type of Dr. Goode." The suggestion put forward may be excellent from a theoretical point of view, but it would be found utterly unworkable in actual practice, and, moreover, even if the practice were instituted, it is questionable whether the public wculd deri(v*i any protection thereby. The best way in which the Medical Association can assist its members to be of greater advantage to the general public is by impressing upon its members, by every means in its power the dishonour attaching to any serious departure from the high ideals of the medical profession. If the tone of the profession be maintained as perfectly as possible there will be little cause to complain of the actions of any member of the Medical Association.