The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-05-29
BOARD OF HEALTH REBUKED,
BOARD of Medical Examiners Tells
Autocratic Body to Mind their
Own Business.

clans seekluB llSShSSo w pl"NbiSO H'S
called forth the following letter in
which the Board of Examiners declare
their independence of Health Board
rulings and state the reasons for the
policy they have framed:
Office of the Board OF Medical Elk
aminers, Honolulu, T. H., May n,
1902.
To the Honorable Board Of Health.
Gentlemen:-As there seems to be
an impression that the Board of Health
exercises mere or less control over the
Board of Medical Examiners, and in
some of its recent meetings resolu-
lions and inquiries have been made az
to the methods of the examinations by
the Board of Medical Examiners, and
also statements that the Board or
Health had made a rule that all OF
these examinations should be conduct
ed in the English language; and in one
instance, physician, who was recon-
mended by us for license, was held
over. for one week until member OF
the Board of Health had satisfied him.
self that the Board of Medical EX-
aminers had complied with its rule.
We desire to state most positively that
the Board of Health has nothing what
ever to do with the Board of Medical
Examiners and has no control or super
vision over it's proceedings. 1t does
not appoint the members. They are
appointed by the Treasurer, not by and
with the advice and consent of the
Board of Health, but, entirely in the
discretion of the Treasurer, who can
appoint or dismiss them without ref
erence to the Board of Health, or any
one else.
In July, 1901 the Board Of Medical
Examiners, for good and sufficient rea-
sons, made rule, that on and after
September l, 1901, all examinations
for license to practice medicine and
surgery in this Territory should be con
Quoted in the English language. BY
some oversight the foreign consuls
were not notified and when this was
brought to our notice, an extension
was made until April /, 1902, in order
to give the consuls ample time to no
tify their countries OF this ruling, This
resolution has the written approval Of
the Treasurer All applicants for IL
censes to practice medicine and sur
gerry in this Territory bring to us u
request from the Board OF Health to
examine them and it might be in or
der if the Board of Health is so par
ticular about their knowledge of the
English language, to ascertain II they
come up to their ideas on this subject
before referring them to us for exami'
nation.
The law requires that such license
shall only be granted upon the written
recommendations of the Board OF
Health" And further mo person shall
be recommended by. the Board Of
Health to practice medicine or surgery
except upon the written report of the
Board of Medical Examiners, to be ap-
pointed and constituted as hereinafter
provided setting forth that the appli'
cant named therein has been duly eX'
amined, and found to be possessed Of
the necessary qualifications,
We presume that the Board of Health
can decline to recommend an applicant
who has passed the Board OF Medical
Examiners, but such declination must
be based upon other reasons than those
pertaining to our methods Of examina'
tion-for our powers are absolute an(
legally so.
Therefore we believe, and shall act
upon such belief, that the Board Of
Medical Examiners is separate and dis
tinct from the Board of Health, / Ii
not appointed by the Board OF Health
Is not in any sense under it's central
We are entirely Independent of 1t, anC