AT THE CROSS ROADS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1939, Page 5

AT THE CROSS ROADS

MEDICAL MEN & SOCIAL SECURITY OBSERVATIONS BY B.M.A. PRESIDENT. SOME FEELINGS OF DOUBT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 21. “It is obvious that the medical profession must view the future with some feelings of doubt and uncertainty. We are at the cross roads, and should be prepared to fight for what we consider the best for our patients and for ourselves,” said the newly-appointed president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, Mr P. Stanley Foster, commenting tonight at a reception to members of the branch attending its biennial conference on problems raised by the Social Security Act . “Our first duty is to our patients, and we should assure the public of our intention to give them the best possible service at all times .perhaps even in spite of social security,” he said. “We may comfort ourselves with the ■knowledge that the services of good doctors are more indispensable now than ever they were.” \ The Social Security Act would make drastic changes in the work of the medical profession. How great these changes would be many people, medical or lay, did not realise, but it was safe to say that the whole type of medical practice might be changed. It was only natural that any body of the community should view with some misgiving anything which would alter so completely their whole work. It was hard to get a clear judgment and perspective. It was clear that the profession must endeavour to maintain its standard of practice.-.

As a whole the profession in New Zealand was outstandingly good and the public had been well served, oven when payment-had been doubtful. The profession was surely entitled to security and must be assured of it if high standards were to be maintained.