Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-02
MEDICAL ETHICS
So Modified by the Alopathie Physicians
Of New York City as TO Leave
Practitioners,
In the Matter Of Consultations, to Their
Own Discretion, Honesty aud the
Demands Of humanity.

New YORK, January 31-Tbe Herald re
ports that there had Eot been such gather
ing of the membars of the County Medica
Society OF New York 10 a dozen years al
ths. which occurred last mig hit in the College
OF Physicians and Surgeons. 1t wss special
meeting, with special purpose before it. II
W calted at the request OF twenty members
headed by Dr.. Lewis A. Ssyre, ''in order, .
as the call stated, "to ascertain the senti-
mens OF the members in regard to the newly
adopted code of medical ethics"
AT the last meeting OF the society, when
only forty memhers were present, DR.. Sayre
had moved 10 instruct the delegation from
this county TO the meeting Of the State Sci.
ey 10 use their best efforts 10 secure the
repeal of tbe new ccde, DR.. Sayre was "sat
down upon," as be himself atlerward ex
press it, by vote OF ihirty.one to nine TO
| lay his motion on the table. Hence the spe-
cIal meeting lsst night DR.. Ssyre was too
| Ill TO be in attend aDce, but every other doc
tor in he city seemed 10 be there, accompa-
MID by hia friends. They sat in the aisles
and stood up in the back Of the hail BY the
score.
| A CAMPAIGN PAPER.
n circular entitled "rhe New York Code
OF Medical hcs in Some of It's Legal As
poets" and signed by no one, was distributed
through the hall. 1t was said to be the
product of lawyers brain, and certainly
the amount OF legal precedent aud reference
IN II suggested that such was the case. The
following are extracts from he circular:
The new code includes the material pro
visions OF The old one, but il also Contains
one rule which ia unquesionsbly new, which
| lie friends regard reform in the inter-
a-f nj hI nanItu md NJ al
legislation OF New York'in relation TO m di-
cl practice, but which its opponeate, both
IN New York and In other States OF the
Union, have sssaiied as "disgraceful act"
In disregard OF custom approved and
sanctIhed by the wisdom OF ages" and acom-
| plete surrender TO homeopathy" The rule
thus vehemenily asssiied is as follows:
"Members of ;he Medical Society of the
State Of New York, and OF the medical soci-
cites In sffiiatIon Herewith, may meet in
consultation legally qualified practitioners
of medicine. Emergencies may occur 10
which all restrictions should, in the iudg-
ment OF the practitioner, yield to the de-
m snds of humanity" The objections 10 this
| rule are that it does not fairly express the
| opinion OF the members Of The county medi-
cal societies, and should be reconsdered by
the State Medical Society at ils next annual
| meeting, aud al such meeting the delega es
| Of the county medical societies should be
| required 10 vote as they may be instructed
| by the county societies. The issue, we are
| told, is code or no code, and the cues, ion is.
Shall the physician be left 10 the unwritten
law OF conscience, professional honor and
humanity. or be governed by ststutes?
The advocates Of the new rule contend
hat it is not their purpose to do away with
| the written code of ethics. An objection TO
one restriction is not an objection to all re.
strictions. An important circumstance con.
trolling the question of consult atious ia the
fact that the Legislature has recognized a
large class OF practitioners as legally quail
fed whom the old rule would not allow
members of the society to consult with. and
| it is better 10 conform TO the legislation of
the State, and seek TO guide and enlighten
| l., than 10 resist OF disregard it..
The dignity OF the medical profession and
| the Interests OF medical science are not The
paramount considerations. The sufferipgs
| and anguish and peril OF the sick and al
flicted of to-day are the paramount con.
siderations and control this controversy.
| Sdias popalli, supTcma Lez.
THE DELEGATES AND THE DEBATE.
The following are the names -ef the dele
| gates ON this county who were chosen last
October to attend the State Convention:
DIS. V. T. Gibney, p. F. Muude, F. P. Fos.
ter, A. Hadden, Z NJ. Fuller, G. B Fowler,
D. Webster, w. M. Carpenter, F. V. White
J. ID. Il pley, A. V. b. Lockrow. w. T. Alex,
| ander, ~. F. Mittendorf, J s. Warren, E. L
| Partridge, E. Greening, o. Pomeroy. A. ii.
Smith, G. l. Dsns, L. johnson, D. Lewis. S.
| Sexton, ]. w. Howe, A. G. Gsrster.
AT S:l5 o'clock the president of the society,
DR.. David Weoier, called the meeting to
| order. The secretary, Dr. w. NJ. Carpenter.
| read the call, which ad been signed by D--'
L. A. Sayre, p. I. Thomas, F. N. Otis, w.
M. Polk and others.
Alter an awkward silence OF half minute.
| DIR. Roosa arose and said that he naturally
| supposed that those who had called the
| meeting would have something to offer
Such not beiDg the case he proposed the
following;
Resolved, That the Medical Society of the
county of New York approves of the amend
ment oil the by-laws of the Medical Society OF
| the State OF New York, adopted at the an.
nual meeting OF February, 1882, and that we
indorse the system of medical ethics therein
| substituted for the former one, especially
because it leaves the matter OF consult ations
10 the discretion, the honesty and the hu-
usniiy of the individual practitioner, and
although We cline 10 Instruct our delegates
to the State Society, we respectfully recon-
mend 20 our representatives that they labor
cal ethics until it shall not coutaio specific
rules for the regulation of professional eti-
auette, but only authorize procedure against
| conduct plainly unworthy physician and
gentleman.
Tue reading OF the resolution was sp-
plaudsd, and then Dr. Piffard offered the
| following as a substitute:
RESOLVED, That The society reposes coufi-
derce in the intelligence and integrity of the
| delegates recently elected by it, and that it
| trusts them TO act in such manner as shall
best conduce to the interests Of the m dical
profession in this city, State and county.
NOT CONVERTS TO HOMEOPATHY.
DR.. Roosa said that he believed an inhu-
entiai minority wanted to discuss this mat
| ter here and now, and he thought that those
| who favored the new code would be accused
Of cowaraice il the substitute were adopted.
| Ii was time, he said, that the Medical Soci-
ETY. OF New York managed its own affairs
| without advice from Oshkosh, Tuecaloosa or
| Philadelphia. He said the old code repre-
| sented the leisure OF respectable English
| gentleman. The argument centered simply
on the question of free consultations, aud
| did any sensible man suppose that the sup
| porters OF the new code had suddenly been
overcome by the shade of Hahnemaun; that
| they had become converts TO the increased
| power cf iuinitesimal doses?
DIR. J. G. Adams moved an executive
session, but that proposition was promptly
| vetoed.
DR.. Garrish arraigned the supporters of
| the new code for having acted without Grst
ascertsining the will of the majority of
practitioners in the State. He bad never
consulted in his life with homeopathic ply
sicisns. He had too much respect for them
| cloud lsughter.) He meant TO say he had
too much respect for himself.
| DIR. jacob said the public was more
| homeopathic than the homeopathisls them
selves. He objected to DR.. Roosa's resolution
because it sounded like instructing the dele
| gates.
| Dr. Roosa then struck out the last clause
of his resolution, and DR.. Piffard withdrew
his substitute.
| Dr. Dwyer offered the following as SUBJ
stitute for Dr. Roosa's resolution:
Resolved, That the code of ethics recently
adopted by the New York Medical Society
should be rescinded.
DR.. Austin Flint said he thought the old
code was defective 10 some respects, but it
contained rules and sentiments of which the
profession ought to be proud. 1t could
never be abrogated. II they refused to con.
/ suit with homeopathists in the days when
they honestly believed inshomeopathy, how
could they consult with them now that they
| were no longer honest? [Applaus>.l Let
the homeopathists do away with their or
! ganization and their name; he cared not
| WI hat opinioua thew held