The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-29
OF HEALTH CANNOT
MAKE RULES.
Medical Examiners Notify the Board
That 1t Has Nothing TO Do with

The Board of Health yesterday re-
Ceived a letter from the Board of Med
zeal Examiners, claiming the right to
run the examinations of would-be doc
tors without interference from the
Board of Health. The Examiners say
that they themselves adopted the rule
as to having examinations in English
and that the Board of Health has moth
ing to do with it. The letter is as fol-
lCws:
AS there seems to be an impression
that the Board of Health exercises
more or less control over the Board Of
Medical Examiners, and in some OF its
recent meetings resolutions and inquir-
les have been made as to the methods
OF examinations by the Board of Med
zeal Examiners and also statements
that the Board of Health has made a
rule that all of these examinations
should be conducted in the English
language; and in one instance, a physi-
clan who was recommended by us for
a license was held over, for one week,
until a member Of the Board of Health
had satisfied himself that the Board Of
Medical Examiners had complied with
its rule we desire to state most posi-
lively that the Board of Health has
nothing whatever to do with the Board
of Medical Examiners and has no con-
troll or supervision over it's proceedings.
1t does not appoint the members. They
are appointed by the Treasurer, not by
and with the consent of the Board of
Health, but entirely in the discretion of
the Treasurer, who can appoint or dis
miss them without reference to the
Beard of Health, or anyone else.
In July, 1901, the Board of Medical
E'Ng miners TppI and sufficient
reasons made a rule that on and after
September l, 1901, all examinations for
license to practice medicine and sur
gerry in this Territory should be con-
Quoted in the English language. By
some oversight, the foreign consuls
v ere not notified and when this was
bought to our notice, an extension
was made until April l, 1892, in order
to give the Consuls ample time to no.
t.fy their countries of this ruling. This
resolution has the written approval Of
the Treasurer. All applicants for IL
Ccnse to practice medicine and surgery
il this Territory bring to us a request
from the Board OF Health to examine
them, and it might be in order if
the Board of Health is so particu-
lar about their knowledge Of the Eng
| fish language, to ascertain if they
come up to their ideas on this subject,
! before referring them to us for exam
| ination.
THE law requires that such license
shall be granted upon the written rec
ommendation of the Board of Health.
And further No person shall be rec
commended by the Board of Health to
practice medicine or surgery except
upon the written report of the Board
OF Medical Examiners, to be appointed
and constituted as hereinafter prOVid-
ed, setting forth that the applicant
named therein has been duly examined,
and found to be possessed of the nee
! essary qualifications
1--WE presume that the Board of
Health can decline to recommend an
applicant who has passed the Board of
| Medical Examiners, but such declina-
| ton must be based upon other reasons
! than those pertaining to our methods
OF examination, for our powers are alb
solute and 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. 1t Is
not appointed by the Board of Health;
! is not in any sense under it's control.
We are entirely independent of it, and
have the right to conduct the eXamina-
tons as may in our judgment best ac-
complish the END in view. The func-
tons of the Board of Health are SIM
ply to recommend for a license those
who pass the examination of the Board
of Medical Examiners, and beyond this
they have nothing whatever to do with
| said examination.
Respectfully, George w. Anderson
w. e. Taylor, NJ. D., James T. Wayson
NJ. D."