Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-09-20
BRUTALITY OF MEDICAL ETHICS
q Great Surgeon Barred from Mem.
bershlp In Medical Association.

From the National Druggist TOR june, |
1907
DR.. Augustus Charles BernAys, who |
died few days ago in st. Louis, was.
probably, the foremost surgeon in the
United States. His fame was CO..
extensive with the civilized world. He
was not only an operator Of The high
est order, but a tireless and exhaus-
tive worker in the field of original
surgery. He performed the first sue
cessful Caesarian section in 1889 in
st. Louis, and also the first successful
coeliotomy for gunshot wound of the
abdomen and the first gallstoue opera
ton in Missouri. A record held by
DR.. Bernays has never been equaled:
Out of eighty-one successive cases
of appendicitis which necessitated
operations, seventy-one in succession
were with perfectly satisfactory re-
suits, the seventy-second patient fall
ing of recovery, but the subsequent
nine cases were successfully treated.
And yet, with such record, match
less as was his skill, varied and ex-
tensive as was his learning, wonder
full as were his accomplishments, he
was not considered, by the American
Medical Association, as worthy Of
membership in that organization.
No charges were ever brought
against him which, in the remotest
degree, reflected on his qualifications
as surgeon; his moral character was
never the subject of attack; he was
never accused of having done any.
thing unbecoming man or d gentle
man. 1.-THE head and front OK his Of
Tending had this extent-no more!"
He dared to think! He refused to
mold his opinions and to govern his
actions by the arbitrary rules which
those whom he knew to be his infer
Tors had set up for his guidance! In
other words, he could not regard the
Code of Ethics OF the American Medi.
cal Association as being inspired, OF
having any binding authority on him
where his Judgment told him 1t was
wrong. And SO, twenty years ago
or more, on account of some trivial in
fraction of this sacred Code" q
movement was started to expel him
from the local association, which was
only defeated by his hastily sending
in his resignation. AS membership in
the A. NJ A. is dependent upon mem,
bership In the local and State socie.
ties, his name was dropped by the
national organization.
And SO, though he had saved thou
sands of lives; though other physi-
clans had prof1ted by his art; this
brilliant surgeon; this great and able
man, has. during all these years. been
an outcast--a medical .scab:" moi
recognized as ethical" or worthy OF
fellowship by that body of physicians
banded together in the American Med
ical Association
And this is the association which
under pretense OF working for the
public good. is, in reality, only seeking
to control Congress and the STATE
Legislatures in the interest Of thei
own selfish schemes; which ID trying
to create a Cabinet position and t
place one OF its members in that pc
sition; which is endeavoring by Law
to exclude from the use of the mails
all manufacturers of medicines VIII
do not comply with the absurd re
quirements that they choose to sc
up; which. in short, is trying to pu
upon the statute books of State an
nation laws that WILL in effect, estal
lish kind of medical priesthood,
which only their own members will
eligible with power and control owe
the health and lives of the people!
God help the druggists, the dru
manufacturers, physicians not men
bers of their guild, and the peopl
generally, If this association ever su
ceeds in It's undertaking. II IL doe
1t will, after the fashion of the labC
unions, dictate a CLOSED shop" an
say to doctors who prefer to be ind
pendent, You must join our unto
or. falling to do so, compel them
get out of the business. It will SO
what medicines shall be taken, an
how they shall be made. It viii hedl
|, the people about with lot of pett
/ regulations under pretense of proteC
ing the public health. In fine, a met
cal bureaucracy will be establi shed
tyrannize over the people.
I Let no man call this false alarl
) II there are those who are incline
I TO do so, let them read the journal
/ the A. NJ. A. Let them scan Il
. proceedings of the association, he
always behind closed doors. and car
4 fully edited, as they are. before thu
Z are published In its official organ.
3 they will do this they viii see that v
are not trying to create bugaboo
brighten their timid souls.