Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-26
WORTHLESS DIPLOMAS.
DR.. Burnett's Appeal for Government
Regulation of Medical Practice.

In recent public address DIR. Swan NJ.
Burnett, the president Of the Medical Society
of the District touched upon the subject of a
higher test for admission to the medical pro-
fession. ut is mainly" he said. because we
are hampered by too much freedom-if We
may use paradox-that we have not ap.
preached more nearly to our own ideal in this
country. The responsibility of medical practice
Is made, by law, too easy OF requirement and
thus pretention, arrogance, ignorance and as
sumption have equal chances in the race with
ability, modesty and scientific requirement..
So long as the laws made by your represen-
tatives render it possibility for an NJ D.
to be manufactured after two short
courses oflectures. and often very poor ones at
that, and so long it is not illegal for any pre-
sumptuous ignoramus to assume unchallenged,
the title of doctor. and can ply his arts and
articles In opposition to the properly qualified
physician aud surgeon, so long must the COM
munlty be responsible for an opprobrium
which rests upon the medical profession, as a
mass, in this country. as it does in no other
civilized nation on earth
THE NATION Ri sPoNsIBLE
''The American nation, as people, are re-
sponsible for the conditions which make it
possible for German medical institutions to
medical college in the United States. Not that
some OF these are not as good and efficient as
are to be found anywhere, but because the laws
OF the land recognize and authorize the in
Vulnerable diploma mills all over the country
which turn out wholesale and with total dis
regard Of qualification any and all sorts Of the
genus doctor. 1t is your duty to change all
that 1t Is your duty, through your represen-
tatives in legislatures and Congress. to protect
yourselves and liberal and cultured profess
inst oh Il
posture. This protection is certainly a legiti-
mate province OF government If it have one.
A REMEDY.
Before man is allowed to assume the func-
ton of physician or surgeon let him be COM
PEELED to furnish the evidence of his qualifica-
ton by successful examination before a
board of competent men, selected by the gov
erning powers, and who have no interest, per-
sonal or pecuniary, in the result of that exam
nation No reputable medical college In the
country is opposed to this, and we. of George
town College, are not afraid to meet such a
test of our teaching. With bill embodyinp
these features now before Congress. 1t is your
evident duty as good citizens. for your own
protection and ours, to see that it is passed-and
yassed promptly and enforced.
See to it that the study of anatomy-the
foundation OF surgery and the handmade of
medical practice-is made possible in this Dis
trlct without the possibility of the stigma of
crime being attached to it. Give us an anat-
omy act-such as is in force. believe, in every
state in the Union, and certainly In every one
where medical teaching Is carried on to any ex-
tent-which shall give a sense OF security to
the community as to the undisturbed repose of
their lost loved ones, and make the pursuit OF
necessary knowledge not liable to punishment
by fine and Imprisonment. The absence of
snch law on the statute books of this District
you should see rectited at once and for your
own sakes, for, depend upon it, the doctor has
no interests which are not shared by the COM
munity i'll which he lives and labors."