Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-12
Dismissal of Dr.. Bovee From
Providence Hospital.
ASSOCIATION TAKES ACTION
Votes to Defend the Dismissed Ply.
stefan Against Charges.
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION
Allegation of Unprofessional Con.
duct Upon Part of DR.. Bovee De-
clared to Be Disproved.

Probably never before in its history has
the Washington branch of the American
Medical Association been so shaken as II
has been within the past few weeks, and
1t is intimated that other difficulties are
brewing. The trouble arose through the
summary dismissal from the staff of the
Providence Hospital of DR.. j. Wesley
Boyee. the dismissal being ordered by
the mother superior of that institution
after DIR. Bovee had declined to tender
his resignation. Following the separation
Of DR.. Bovee from the service of the hos
pital as gynecologist of the visiting staff
came the tender Of the position to DR..
j. Thomas Kelley, jr., of 1872 10TH street
northwest. and 1t Is understood his action
in accepting the place is one of the sub
jects of discussion before the councils Of
the association.
1t has been enormously reported that
this whole matter was considered at
meeting of the Medical Society of the
District of Columbia last Tuesday even
ing. 1t was ascertained today. however.
that the affair was of such significance
that il was brought before 4 called met
ing of the Medical Association. The dit
ference between the two orgau'k ltions OF
physicians is that the Medical society
meets regularly once each week tor the
purpose of hearing medical papers and
discussing subjects of interest 10 the pro-
fession while the province of the Medical
Associa ton is solely to consider the eth
les of the practice of medicine, and It's
regular meetings are held only once
year.
Attracts Large Crowd.
The meeting Tuesday night was called
by the president, DIR. Louis Mackall, jr.,
of 1888 street northwest. and so widely
had the matter of DIR. Bovee's dismissal
and Dr. Kelley's appointment been dis
cussed that the largest assemblage of
practicing physicians possibly ever held
in the District of Columbia resulted The
meeting was held in the auditorium of the
George Washington University, and even
| that spacious room was crowded 10 us
capacity standing room being at a
premium. Information was vouchsafed
non-medical inquirers at the door that
the meeting was purely professional ana
therefore secret. but there was sufnclent
outward indication of the interest mani
tested by physicians from the fact that
the entire square of 18th street between
II street and New York avenue was
lined on both sides by the automobiles
of members. only a narrow lane In the
center remaining for the passage OF other
vehicles.
Discussion of the merits of the case
continued until long after midnight. ana
with each passing day since physicians
selves, and enough information has leak
ed out to make possible the positive state
ment that Dr. Bovee's dismissal rom
the staff Of Providence Hospital was Que
to the performance of an operation when
came fully within the ethics of the pro-
fession. and yet was not in harmony with
the rules of the church. OF which, IL Is
said, the patient was q member. Furthef-
more 1t Is learned that the operation was
absolutely essential to save life, and Its
success has been manifest from the fact
that the sufferer, a woman, Is alive ana
we'll on the road to complete recovery
Appeals to His Associates.
Immediately after his dismissal DR..
Bovee appealed to the Medical Associa-
ton for an investigation, and the matter
came within the purview Of the board
of councillors, of which DIR. G. Wyeth
Cook is chairman, and Drs. Sprigg, Nc
Laughlin, Acker, J. ID. Morgan, E. l..
Morgan ODER and III. T. Lemon are MEM
bers. The report of the councillors was
presented TO the meeting, and it not only
completely eXonerated DR.. Boyee from
any suspicion of unprofessiOnal conduct,
but stated that the operation was Ell
| tirely in line with the ethics of the pro-
fession and, in the case concerned. was
absolutely necessary to save the HE OF
the patient.
After hearing the report the whole as
ISOLATION voted TO sustain DR.. Bovee. and
| in a still more determined way decided
unanimously that no members of the as
ISOLATION should fill the place formerly
occupied bH DIR. Bovee.
Dr. Kelley's continuance in the position
of gynecologist, after the action OF the
| association, is, of course. the only remain
ing live subject which may cause further
consideration within the councils of thu
association Several efforts were made
| to reach DR.. Kelley today, and late this
| afternoon telephone message to ms
| Office found him busily engaged i'm his
operating room. An inquiry was carried
to him. as to whether he intended 10
resign from the staff of Providence Hos
| pital and the reply sent back over the
| telephone was that 1.-The matter has not
yet been fully decided.
DR.. J. Wesley Bovee was appointed syn
ecologist of Providence Hospital in 1871.
| and his service in that position dated
| from January ], 1892.