Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-03

The Kew York County Medical Socies ,
Approves OF The New Code Of Medical


Approves OF The New Code OF Medical
The New York County Medical Society met at
the College Of Physicians and Surgeons January
Goth In response. to call signed by twenty
prominent members to consider the new code
of medical ethics. Dr.. D. B. st. John Roosa
offered the fbilo wing resolution: "Resolved,
That the Medical Society Of the County Of New
York approves OF the amendment of the by laws
of the MedlcaI Society of the State of New
York, adopted at the annual meeting In Feb
ruary, 1892 and that we indorse the system of
medical ethics therein substituted for the former
one, expressly because it leaves the matter of
consultation to the discretion the honesty and
the humanity OF the individual practitioner
And although we decline to instruct our dele
gates to the state society, we respectfully re-
commend to our representatives that they labor
for the further simplifcation Of the system OF
medical ethics. until it shall not contain specific
rules for the regulation of professional etiquette
but only authorized procedure against conduct
plainly unworthy physician or a gentleman"
Mr.. Il. G. Piffard offered an amendment that
the matter be left to the Judgment of the dele
gates to the state society. DR.. Roosa said he
offered his resolution in good faith. The argu-
ments against the new code center around the
method Of consultation, which should be left to
the discretion ofthe physicians.
DR.. Garnish said this was very important
period in the history of the society. 1t was
time to stop this sort of thing, that small min
ority could control a majority. He thought it
all wrong that some parties should have gone to
Albany and should have had a law of ethics en-
acted without knowing whether the physicians
wanted it or not. He was happy to say he had
never consulted with homeophathist; he had
too much respect for them loud and continued
applausel; he would have very little respect for
himself should he consult with them.
DR.. Andrew H. Smith said he was opposed to
al ho vt|rhf bn6 prr
matists had been treated in the past as they
wished to be treated, and he thought they
should now be treated as they did not want to
be treated
DR.. Abraham jacob said he was opposed to
DR.. ROOsa's motion, as it practically instructed
the delegates, and resolution to that effect had
been voted down week ago. He thought they
should go uninstructed and unbiased.
DR. Rosa then Withdrew the latter part of his
resolution. DR.. Piffard said he would withdraw
his amendment DIR. Dryer then offered the
following substitute for Dr. Roosa's motion:
"Resolved, That the Medical Society of the
County of New York are of the opinion that the
recent code of ethics adopted by the state So
ciety should be rescinded.'
DR.. Austin Flint, ST., said that a code which
required that consultations should not be had
with those who have an exclusive dogma was
wrong.
DR.. c. R. Agnew advocated the new code. for
1t represented the refined ethics of the present
day The old code can no more be restored
than the fugitive slave law. No man could
point to one single infraction of the old code by
MIN. but he did not approve of it for all that
Before the enactment of the old code homeO-
paths could be numbered by the score: now there
are more than 6. 0OO Of them. So much for per-
SeCutiOn.
The vote was then taken on Dr. Dryers SUBJ
stitute, which was lost by vote of l47 to CO.
DIR. ROOsa then called up his motion, which was
carried by vote of l35 to 43.