Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-11
REGULATING MEDICAL PRACTICE.
The Objections of the Medical Society
to the COmmissiOners' Bill.

DR.. Samuel c. Busey. as chairman of the
committee on legislation Of the Medical
Society Of the District, has addressed
communication to the Commissioners en-
bodying the objections Of the committee to
the bill known as the Commissioners
BILL" and entitled "a bill to regulate the
practice of medicine and surgery, to license
physicians and surgeons, and to punish
persons violating the provisions thereof In
the District of Columbia"
The committee of the Medical Society
suggests that Sec. / be so amended that
not more than two of the board of medical
supervisors shall be appointed from either
of the three systems of medicine recog-
nized in the bill. SO that it will be impos-
sible for either of these systems of medi-
cine to acquire a majority Of said board of
medical supervisors.
The committee recommends the OnliS-
sion OF all OF section j after the word sur
gerry" in line 80 This clause provides for
the licensing of ANY applicant intending
to practice In the District of Columbia any
system of medicine or treatment other
than the regular or homeopathic or eclec-
tic system" 1T is Objectionable" DR..
Busey writes, mot only because it is an
invitation to the horde of charlatans, pre-
tenders and imposters, driven from the
states by the enforcement of medical prac-
tice laws. which prevent the prosecution OF
their nefarious and mercenary impositions,
to settle in this District, now the common
rendezvous of such disreputable classes,
but it Is direct and positive insult to
every intelligent and educated physician,
in that 1t ignores all and every method
and system of preliminary and technical
education, and is in direct conflict with the
reforms and elevated standard of medical
education which the profession is putting
In active operation throughout the coun-
try There is now in this city one system
claiming to have a charter obtained under
the provision of the general incorporation
law, with one emeritus professor, and one
graduate, who signed the certificate of his
own graduation. Under the clause referred
to. unlike systems but similar institutions
may be chartered at the will of any drug
license to practice the science of medicine
in this District.
The same clause of section g. lines IS
to Al, compels such applicant, when
licensed. to insert in any advertisement he
may cause to be displayed the designation
of the system of medicine or treatment
employed by him for the cure or relief of
disease Thus. not only is the fraud to be
licensed. but, when licensed he is required
to commit a fraud upon the credulous pub
lie by advertising to do that which he
knows he cannot do"
DIR. Busey also urges that provision be
inserted to prohibit publicly advertising
ability to treat and cure diseases" and
SAYS the Medical Society of the District of
Columbia is willing to accept any one of
the forty medical practice laws now in
force in the states and territoriessof the
country. except the Alabama law to which
it objects because of a provision somewhat
similar to the Objectionable clause in section
3 of the Commissioners BILL but which is
more securely guarded. because of the
supervision of the State Medical Society