The Washington times., 1907-09-08
.STRICTER LAW
FOR HOSPITALS
WILL Be ASKED
Defects in the Statutes
Pointed Out by
Officials.
No Penalties Are Pro-
Yided for Viola
tons.

4 ne present QenCleuCleS IN Ln6 laWS
governing the regulation of hospitals In
the District Will result in Congress being
asked at its next session to pass more
stringent laws, and to provide penalties
for those who fail or refuse to obey
the regulations as to hospital manage
ment according to those familiar with
the situation.
An analysis Of the present laws gov
erning the operation of hospitals IN the
District. as made by a prominent Of
fetal yesterday, reveals that the present
acts are weak in several material points.
The act approving the Board Of Chart
ties for the District, passed June 6. 1900,
provides, in substance. that
Duties of Charities Board.
THE said Board OF Charities shall
visit. inspect. and maintain a general
supervision over all institutions. So
cieties, or associations, that are chart
table, eleemosynary, correctional. or re-
formatory in character which are sup
ported in whole OF in part by appro-
priations of Congress made for the care
or treatment Of residents OF the District
OF Columbia. The officers in
charge Of all institutions subject to the
supervision OF the Board of Charities
such Information and statistics as may
be desired.
The Commissioners of the District
of Columbia may at any time order an
investigation by the board, or a COM
mittee of its members OF the manage
ment of any penal. charitable. or re-
formatory institution in the District OF
Columbia; and report shall be made TO
the Commissioners. The said
board shall make an annual report TO
Congress. through the Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia. Said
report shall also include recommended
tions for the economical and efficient
administration Of the charities and re-
formatories Of the District of CO.
funbia. ."
Hospital Subject to Inspection.
The act Of March ,, 1885. providing
appropriations for the expenses Of the
District. after providing the distance at
which hospitals shall be located from
private residences OF property, requires
that each private hospital shall be re-
Quired to get a permit from the Com
Inissioners, and shall at all times be
subject to inspection by the Health Of
dcer Of the District. Persons refusing
10 permit such inspection shall be sub
iect to a fine
The act relating to the detention OF
insane persons of the District in the
Covernmene-aospitaI, approved April p.
1891, contains the following provision
in section 4:
THAT the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia may authorize The
temporary commitment OF insane per-
sons or persons OF unsOund mind, APP
rsraharHa1 nd detained al Foruy-fdnH en-
sections / and , Of this act (for d period
Of time not exceeding thirty days. in any
other hospital in said District, which,
IN the judgment of the Health officer
of said District, is properly constructed
and equipped for the reception and care
OF such persons. -
Must Isolate Contagious Diseases.
Another act requires that persons with
contagious diseases shall be kept $50
lated from other patients. Section % OF
this act provides a penalty by fine of
not less than s. nor more than so, or
a minimum Imprisonment Of five days,
with a maximum OF six months for vio-
lations of this provision
Beyond the acts cited above the ex-
listing laws do not seem 10 be especially
applicable to the management Of hos
pitfalls, according TO the opinion of a
prominent District official, and in event
Of the mismanagement Of any such in
stitution, there is little recourse so far
as punishment is concerned In speak
ing of this matter which was being dis
cIssed among officials at the District
Building yesterday, he said
Points Out Weak Places.
The weak point with respect to the
two acts first quoted lies in their fall
a.,
fact, that they neither specifically reg
ulate the construction and management
OF such institutions, nor authorize the
Commissioners 20 regulate them. Hos
pitals. however. like all other buildings
are within the scope of the plumbing
regulations. electrical regulations, build
ing regulations, etc. and possibly the
general police jurisdiction of the Com
uissioners. especially that conferred by
Joint resolution Of February 26, 1892
might be invoked to regulate the man
Egement Of such institutions
Il believe that there is pending an in
VestiEation by the Senate Committee on
the District of Columbia of the chart
ties or OF the medical charities Of the
District. but am unable to place my
hand upon any law authorizing this in
vestigatiOn. 1 am not certain that this
investigation is authorized and would
suggest inquiry Of proper sources for
any ucAiAlLe SAdlchiel4L Allduc NOuCCEuilE
it,
The above observations are deemed of
particular interest at this time on ac-
count OF the fact that a COroner's Jury
recently censurSd one of the washing
ton hospitals for not providing proper
protection for deiiriOus patients, result
ing in the patient falling through an
open window TO his death while wander
ipC about the room.
~ = believed the District authorities
viii investigate hospital conditions gem
orally in the District within the next
two months and probably ask some i'm
portant changes in the present laws
when Congress TecOnVenes.
nuMIMlTT HnTEI nIET.