The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-09-13
BRUTALITY OF MEDICAL ETHICS.
a Great Surgeon Barred from Mem.
bership in Medical Association.

, From the National Druggist for Jun,
1901
DR.. Augustus Charles Bernays, VIII
, died few days ago in st. Louis, was
! probably, the foremost surgeon in tn
United States. His fame was CO.
extensive with the civilized world. H,
was not only an operator of the high
est order, but tireless and exhaus
tive worker in the field of origina
surgery. He performed the first sue
cessful Caesarian section in 1889 ir
st. Louis, and also the first successful
coeliotOmy for gunshot wound of the
abdomen and the first gladstone 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
We're with perfectly satisfactory re-
suits, the seventy-second patient fail
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 a surgeon; his moral character, was
never, the subject of attack; he was
never accused of having done any.
thing unbecoming man or gentle.
man. 'Thes head and front of 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
iors 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, or
having any binding authority on him
where his judgment told him it was
wrong. And so, twenty years ago
or more, on account of some trivial in
fraction of this sacred Code"
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. M. A. is dependent upon mem.
hnrcbin in tho local ND
ties, his name was dropped by the
national organization.
And so, though he had saved thou
sands of lives; though other physi- |
clans had profted by his art; this
brilliant surgeon; this great and able
man, has, during all these years, been i
an outcast-a medical 'scab;" noe
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 their
own selfish schemes; which is trying
to create Cabinet position and to
place one of it's members in that po
sition; which ic endeavoring by law
to exclude from the use of the mails,
all manufacturers of medicines who
do not comply with the absurd re
luirements that they choose to sci
up; which, in short, is trying to put
Upon the statute books of State and
nation laws that will, in effect, estab
ish kind Of medical priesthood, to
which only their own members will be
eligible with power and control over
he health and lives of the people!
God help the druggists, the drug
physicians not mem
'ers of their guild, and the people
If this association ever sue
leeds in its undertaking. II 1t does,
will, after the fashion of the labor
lnions, dictate a "closed shop" and
ay to doctors who prefer to be indie
You must join our union
r. falling to do so, compel them to =
et out of the business. 1t will say a.
What medicines shall be taken, and ,
ow they shall be made. 1t will hedge
he people about with a lot of petty
equations under pretense of protect.
ng the public health. In fine, medi y
al bureaucracy will be established TO
yrannize over the people.
Let no man call this false alarm
there are those who are inclined
D do so, let them read the journal of
he A. M. A. Let them scan the
roceedings of the association, held :
ways behind closed doors, and care. =
lily edited, as they are, before they =
re published in its official organ. If =
ley will do this they will see that we -
re not trying to create bugaboo to y
iubtap that, +i.~>il