The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-09-08
PHYSICIANS MUST OBEY.
Expected to Respect Law That
Has Been placed on the
Statutes of the State
of Iowa.


The state board of health has handed
down decision in the matter of the
new law regulating the gathering OF
vital statistics, deciding that the physi-
clans of Iowa must obey the law and
that the reports of all births and deaths
shall be reported to the health officers
of cities. When the blanks are avail
able the law will be considered in full
force and effect, and failure to comply
with the same will subject physicians
to penalty.
The state board has addressed a com
munication to all health officers in
which it says:
.The state board of health is convinc-
ed that the evident intent of the legis-
lature was, and the best interests of the
registration demand, that the health
officers of towns, as we'll as of cities,
discharge the duties of registrar for
their respective jurisdictions, and the
blanks and instructions will be sent out
accordingly. AS registrar for your own
town and city you are the trusted agent
Of the state and of this board for the
collection and transmission to the sec
rotary of this board, on the fifth day OF
each month, all the births and deaths
occurring within your jurisdiction for
the month Immediately preceding. This
service is not asked simply as favor,
but is imposed upon you as most inn
portant duty. Please secure as far as
possible the returns for July, as the re-
port from the clerks of the district
court will not embrace any births or
deaths occurring later than June 80,
1904"
The law'requires the health officers to
appoint deputy and to receive and
transmit to the state board certificates
of births, deaths, burials from physi-
clans, midwives, coroners, undertakers,
etc.
MAYORS GET INSTRUCTIONS.
| Commenting on the action of the
|
Leader says:
Not having the names of many of the
health officers of the state the board Of
health has written to all mayors of
towns to make several important re-
quests. 1t seems that there are towns
in which no competent or other physi-
clan has been appointed as it's health
officer as required by section 2568 of
the code. Secretary Kennedy says in
the letter to the mayors:
'This office, with the concurrence of
the secretary Of state, respectfully but
earnestly requests, believing that you
will promptly and with pleasure as an
official and citizen comply with the
same:
"First. If your city or town as a
local board of health has not yet APP
pointed health officer please do SO at
once.
Second. When so appointed hand
the enclosed papers to him, taking his
receipt for the same on the attached
blank.
"Third. Return the receipt thus OBJ.
tanned to the undersigned secretary, fol
which stamped return envelope is en-
closed"
Secretary Kennedy has been informed
that an occasional physician has declar
ed that he will not comply with the re
quirements of this law, because it is I'M
constitutional, in that it requires the
performance of a service without any
compensation. But fortunately, he
says, there is an Iowa supreme court
decision upon this point. 1t was rem
dered under former provision requir
) ing physicians and midwives to report
to the county clerk all births and deaths
occurring within their practice. DR.
Hamilton, of Mills county, refused tt
make these reports on the ground above
cited. He was tried in the district
court and later the case reached the
supreme court. 1t is style "Robinson
clerk of Mills county, VS.. Hamilton"
After quoting from other decisions il
the points at issue, the court concludes
ga physician should honestly endeavol
to obtain and report all information re
quired by the regulations of the statute
and the state board of health. This il
his duty as citizen and is imposed as
an obligation by the ethics of the usefu
and honorable profession of which he il
member" Says DR.. Kennedy: "The
medical profession of the state is to bt
congratulated upon that opportunity
offered them to assist in making Iowa
: / q IL q II u