New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-30
MEDICAL EXAMINATION.
Why One Board Should Not Be
Substituted for Three.
To the EDITOR Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The proposition for the abolition OF ths
existing three-bOard system OF examination for
q license to practise medicine and the suhstitu-
ton Of a single examining board In its place Is
for the following reasons. greatly to be deDzs-
Gated:
First-It is consonant with the recognized pol
icy of this government to permit the members
Of organized bodies of its citizens entire fres-
dom in the exercise Of the civil right to per-
petuats and maintain their respective assOeia-
tons
Second-The licensing OF medical students IS a
civil right. the exercise Of which should hs
extended TO all schools OF medicine equally.
Third-The state having vested in separats
schools the same civil rights. embracing those
OF organizing their own societies. hospitals and
medical colleges. It would be entire reversal
OF It's established fair and impartial policy 70
prohibit each from licensing its own students.
Fourth-The principle OF minority represents
ton and the principle OF establishing single
boards OF medical examination in any state are
one and inseparable
Fifth-The establishing OF a single board, con-
trolled in any degree by one school Of medi-
enc. would constitute class legislation Of q
most Objectionable form
Sixth-In case there should be only one exam
ming board the question OF representation o.
the different medical schools could never 30
satisfactorily adjusted
The function OF the examining board being
administrative the basis of representation
thereon Of the different schools should neees-
sarily be equal in order 70 insure an impartial
and Just application OF it's judicial and exec
utive powers. Unequal representation OF the
different schools in a single examining board
would place a premium on favoritism
The aHopathic school would never approve OF
a mixed board. having equal representation with
other medical bodies.
Seventh-The fact that the alIOpathic school
is concededly the largest should give TO It no M
herent right in any way TO limit or control the
civil privileges OF other schools or systems, ana
has no perttnency whatever to the argument
Eighth-It would be an act OF as manifest M
Justice to compel medical students from o'heF
branches Of the profession to obtain license
from a board in any respect controlled BY aAo-
pathic influences as it would be to compe4
Episcopal and Presbyterian theological students
to be examined for admission to the ministry
by board composed Of Methodist elersyI1ell,
II Is true that the AIethOdists are, nuIneI1cslSF
stronger than the other two deuOn1lilalIou5 - -
bined but that does not give them the ciVL "
vested right to examine students or Co 49,
two religious bodies. The aIopatnS are hu ls.o1
cally stronger than either OF the other IheSl-S
sectS. yet this fact does not give them tne ISl.s
in any sense. to administer the educauOn@A %
other affairs OF the weaker schools. -. ,rs
The advocates OF q single board nave 80 80
sented no cOgent reason nor demonstrate - -
real necessity for disturbing the present Law 1o1
incidentally pFeCipltating disagreeaOle l s-
contest. The law is proposed solely IN tls - ~
ests Of the allOpathic school The people - % 80
state do not desire it. The single bosE@ -
sought BY the homeopathic or eclectic scngoss
but on the contrary, IL is put forth oy Hel. ~
OF the allopathic against the expressed 49, to
both OF the other schools and IN oPgoSl.lI- 80
tho matured opinions of majority OF tns q -
ent Board Of Regents The introduetion - IN
bill into the Legislature has already stLioo 1870
old 6nimOSities and has made tho $50 -
Page bill the centre OF the bitteresC nsn-,,
tween the three incorporated ana Ie7rr
schools Of medicine that the state has Ah1~@
for q quarter Of q century. 41a
Its passage would destroy every trace - asI-
existing harmony between the schools o. l-S4a4
cine and postpone the unifcation OF 1he eo~ --o1
medical men of the state under one VSS.-t~e5
flag. which thinking men have 50 iO's
for at least half century --.T,cON
WILLIAM H WA4SO-"
Utica N Y March n. 1904