The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-22
VIGOROUS REPLY
To COMMITTEE Y | L:
Management Of City Hospital
and Resident Physicians
1ssue Statements.
WILL EXPLAIN ABOUT. CLINICS.
Mr.. Gunst Says Matter Will Be
Taken Up At Next
Meeting Again.

The action last night of the Committee
on tho Relief Of tho Poor In instructihs
the officers Of the City Hospital that no
clinics should be held there III iilture
has aroused much comment, anu thc
management Of tho hospital, ineludihs
tho house physicians yesterday 'ssuea
statements explaining the situation ana
replying 10 the attack made by MI. l1op-
son. a member of the committed.
Mr.. Marx Gunst, chairman of the cont
mittee, was seen last night and asked
| If he had anything to say about the ac-
| tdon of his committee. Mr.. Gunst replied:
~ did not know anything about tho
matter until 1t was sprung upon the com
! mittec last night. To-day have talked
with the house physicians and with pea
ple who are familiar with the situation.
In learned that the clinics were always
| held with the consent of the patients,
and that mono werc held OH the fena!s
side of the hospital. Personally, can
not see what objection there can be to
clinics under these conditions, and there
is no question in my mind that the mat
ter will be taken up and thoroughly dis
cussed at the next meeting of the COM
mttee."
Statement of Officials.
Dr.. John g. Trcvlllan. surgeon in
charge of the City Hospital. and Mr..
George 3. Davis, superintendent, yes
terday prepared tho following statement.
which they issued over their own sigma
lures:
"In this mornings paper your article
in reference to clinics at City Home Hos
pital was misleading, and calculated to
reflect on the management. The facts
are these: Ever since this institution has
been in existence the colleges (medicao
have. had access for clinical purposes.
though guarded by restrictions, and ten
der solicitude for the feelings OF the
patients. In no case has coercion been
resorted to, and In many instances he
patient has been reocmpensed by the
! faculty.
Their full consent has always been
obtained before being used as a clinic.
AS far as we know, there has never
! been any nd!gnity offered n patient. nor
would such d thing be allowed. as one
of the resident physicians always attend
ed the clinics with the visiting doctors"
Statement of Physicians.
The statement of the resident physi-
clans. Drs G. S. Pitt. j. Walter W'itten
and G. F. thurman, is as follows:
Referring to the publication in
the mornings paper in regard to alleged
indignitcs to the INDECENT sick at the
City Hospital, the undersigned resident
physicians at the hospital beg leave to
state the facts for the information cf
the public On Tuesday and Thursday
OF each week members o fthc faculty OF
one OF the medical colleges ask permits
sion of one of the resident physicians
at the City Hospital to bring out what
Is known as a Clinic section" OF fou,
young men Of the graduating class 10
study any instructive case or cases that
may be In the hospital at the time The
permission is usually granted. but NOT
without full consent of the patient or
patients, and only about fifteen minutes
are spent In the study Of each case. Nyo
found this custom in vogue when we
entered the hospital. and learn that it
nus existed for many years. We cain.
OF course, speak only for the period
during which We have had charge Of the
mater matter concerning that period we wish
to say with emphasis that the statement
that 3"indisnity and humiliation are viz
Hed upon the poor, but respectable, in.
mates Of the City Home is withou,
lounoatlon' and must be based upon ali,
solu,e ignorance Of tho facts. The sick
IN this hospital receive from the nbve;
clan IN charge and from the resident
PHYSICIANS as we'll as tender, faithful
ana delicate consideration and care az IL
lliey were people of Independent fortune
We make no plea for the coutfn,,a tion
" tH!s custom Of long standing. but orr
manhood protests against any sucrestio,
OF nhmation that we or any one OF or =,
could DC guilty Of any lack Of nationt
careful and considerate treatment ne ~,
helpless ones committed to our care.
v III
Fl Orne yS1aJd;