The Washington herald., 1908-05-06
BETTER LAM FOR DOCTORS
Senator Gallinger Introduces Bill to
Amend District Statute.
VIII Place Capital I'm Line with
Progress in Medical Require
ments OF the Country.

With the object primarily of placing
the District in the front rank as regards
its requirements for the practice Of med
icine and surgery, bin which has the
Endorsement Of the doctors of Washing
ton and the national associations of doc
tors and medical examining boards was
introduced in the Senate yesterday by
Senator Gallinger.
The District, as regards its require
ments for the privilege Of practicing med
ieine within its confines, according to a
well-infOrmed physician. Is rated third
class by State examining boards. The
bill does not affect physicians engaged
in the practice of medicine here now.
but it proposes to put on a higher plane
the District laws relating 10 medicine
and TO place the District on a par with
the majority OF the States with regard
10 this important matter. II is in line
with the movement among the doctors OF
the country 10 create a condition of
reciprocal laws which viii make a ply
sican's license in one State good in any
other. Il viii also, it is stated, give the
medical schools of Washington a higher
n
The bill proposes 70 amend the law
regulating the practice of medicine and
surgery in the District in such a way as
to shut out persons who practice medicine
without due preparation for that high
calling.
II provides that applicants for licenses
10 practice in the District shall present
adequate proof that they have had
proper academic education, IN addition 10
the required course in medicine and sur
gerry; and 10 demonstrate that applicants
have been properly grounded In the lore
OF Hippocrates. as amended by Osier.
Loeb, and other great modern men OF
medicine, it IS provided that a rigid exami-
nation shall be given. the range OF which
covers IN comprehensive manner the field
Of modern medical and surgical practice. /
In addition to passing the required ex-
animation satisfactorily, wOuld-be District
loctOrS must have diplomas conferring the
iegree OF NJ. D. from legally incorporated
schools OF medicine IN good standing. or
| license e0nferring the right 20 practice
medicine IN some foreign country, based /
upon an adequate medical course which |
IS prescribed IN the bill
Doctors who are registered IN the health /
'fice OF the District at the time of the /
'assage Of the bill. and those who may
emove u the District from States and 4
Territories having satisfactory medical /
avs and examinations. are granted IL /
enses under the terms Of the act with !
ut examination or other restriction. other I
han the requirement that States and /
territories whose licenses are recognized /
y the District must accord like recogni- !
ion to the District license.
Persons treating human ailments" Is |
dded 10 the enumeration OF practitioners /
oming under the bill, with the intention /
4 covering the "quaciCs," as well as reg
lar physicians, and a fine OF from $50 /
D 500 is made the penalty for practicing
Medicine or surgery I'm the District with
ut a license, with the alternative Of from
en TO ninety days in jail. the court in
s discretion being allowed to Impose
9th fine and jail sentence.