The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-08-31
The Medical and Surgical Monopoly at
the Queens Hospital-No. 5.

Inc medical ana ourglcal monopoly at
the Queens Hospital-No. 5.
In my former communication on the above sub
ject 1 have endeavored to state as briefly as pos
sible some of the main reasons why the system OF
medical administration at the Hospital is objec-
tionable, and at the same time to set forth. in a
plain and concise manner, certain facts and argu-
ments in favor of a change. My object has been
threefold:
FTrSt-To e~nlighten the minds of such as were
willing to receive information, by the presentation
of facts pertinent to the question.
SecOnd-To endeavor to influence the opinions
of my readers by Legitimate appeals to their reason
and judgment.
Tird-To give public expression to a feeling
which 1 knew to be already quite strong in this
community, that the popularity and influence of
the institution. and the interests of the patients, re-
quired a change.
How well l may have succeeded in this under
taking / leave others to Judge. Whatever l have
written and printed on this subject has been put
forth in the most public manner and over my own
signature, and the fact that the challenge thus pub
licly made has never been accepted, and that no
one has ever taken the responsibility of coming
forward publicly in defense of the present arrange
ment, is, to say the least OF it, extremely signia-
cant.
Under these circumstances | do not consider il
necessary to say anything more at present upon
the general merits OF the question. Nor do I feel
called upon to make any defense of my personal
motives in the matter. The latter ground was, /
think fully covered in my communication in the
Advertiser of July goth, in reply to certain remarks
of Hon. c. r. Bishop in the Legislative Assembly.
My present purpose is to show that the idea of an
enlargement Of the medical staff Of the Hospital.
and the substitution of a Board of Physicians. in
place of the present autocratic arrangement, is by
no means a peculiar or exclusive hobby of my
own. and that contrary to the impression which
has been industriOusly cultivated in certain quar-
tiers, the proposed change. although Grst publicly
advocated by Inc, has the approval and endorse
ment of the great majority of The profession, both
in Honolulu and on the other Islands as well. 1t
ought to be distinctly understood that in adhering
to the present system, and refusing to make any
change, the Board of Trustees are setting them
selves up, not against my humble self, but against
the known and expressed opinions and wishes of
most of my professional associates.
Not long after the matter was 6rst brought TO
the notice of he Board of f. Trustees. it was sug-
gested to me Oy a member Of that body that it
would be well for me to draw up some definite
plan for the reorganization of the Hospital service,
in order that the same might be ubmitted 10 the
Board or to such Committe as might be appointed
to consider the subject. l was told that they
would probably say to me in substance: Inso-
much as you object to the present arrangement,
tell us just what it is you want, and Just what you
propose in place of it-let us have something
definite before us on which to act" This sugges-
ton, though plausible, and no doubt offered in
good faith. did not seem to me altogether sound.
l felt assured that in case the Trustees could be
made to see and admit the objections to the pres
ent system, and consent to a change, all the various
matters of detail involved could be easily ar
ranged. On the other hand, l saw that in case the
Trustees were determined to sustain DR.. McKlb-
bin in the exclusive possession of the privileges
he enjoys. the presentation Of any particular plan
of reorganization wonld only complicate the situa-
ton and afford an opportunity for evading the real
question at issue by diverting attention to the de-
tails of the plan proposed. Notwithstanding these
considerations. | concluded, out Of Difference to
the wishes of the person making the suggestion,
and somewhat against my own Judgment, to do as
requested. 1t being my wish that the plan which
I should present should be not merely the rehec-
ton of nv individual ideas, but should embody
rather the general sense of the medical profession,
| proceeded to confer with a number Of my pro-
fessional brethren, and as a result of repeated con-
situations and comparisons of views, the following
paper was prepared and presented to the Special
Committee appointed by the Board of Trustees:
.Msssrs. Henry Nag, Il. 5. CleghOrn and John 81
Walker - GENTLEMEN: Understanding that you
have been appointed a to consider and
report on the subject of a change IN the system o.
medical and surgical administration now prevail
ing at the Queens Hospital, the undersigned. ply
sicians, practicing medicine IN Honolulu, would
take the liberty Of submitting for your consideTa-
ton the following brief statement Of our views on
the subject:
Rirst-The present arrangement whereby the
entire medical and surgical practice OF the Hos
pital is confined TO one man, Is contrary to the
custom prevailing elsewhere, and. in our opinion.
Objectionable for various reasons.
,Second-We would respectfully recommend that
the present system be abolished.
Third-We would in place thereof suggest the
adoption of q plan substantially as follows:
That the medical and surgical administration OF
the Hospital be placed in the hands OF a Medical
Board, consisting of such physicians and surgeons
of Honolulu as may be willing to be members
thereof.
That the Medical Board be authorized to select
from their own number two or more Attending
PHYSICIANS. and one or more Consulting Pbysi-
clans. and to arrange and prescribe their resPec-
That the members of the Medical Board, as such,
receive no compensation for their services, but the
Attending Physicians to be paid such amount as
the Board of Trustees shall consider just and
reasonable. and the Consulting Physicians, when
their services are required. to be paid IN the same
manner and at the same rate as when outside pro-
fessional help is called in under the present ar
rangement.
We furthermore recommend that pay patients