Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-01
Uniform Medical Legislation for
Northwestern States Planned
By Tri-State Association

Tho next Idaho legislature Will be
called upon TO give serious considera-
ton to and pass uniform medicai
practice act, including reciprocity
among the states of Idaho, Washing
ton and oregon The joint committee
selected my the Tri-State Medical
ASSOCIATIONS at its last session held IN
Portland, the membership of which
is made up of physicians in these three
states, to handle the proposed legisia-
ton in their respective states, is COM
posed of DR.. r. l.. Nourse Boise; Dr.
&c. j. Smith, Pendleton, and DR., {. n
Suttner, Walla Walla. The plan is said
10 have the backing of all members
of the association.
President Outlines Plan.
DR.. w. +. Howard of Pocate,lo,
president of the Tri- state Medical as
spcintion, proposed the joint reciproci-
ty LEGISLATION in his annual address.
The remarks OF DIR. Howard show
clearly the need Of the legislation, it
is claimed His address is as fol-
lows:
..1'he state of Washington is the
northwest and the boundary states of
oregon and Idaho are generally UNI
derstood to be included in the term
northwest" as applied to that part
OF the United states. Other adjacent
states are more .or less described by
this same term and there is no definite
boundary to it's limits, but it is here
used to apply to these three states
concerned in the Tri-Statc association.
1.-THE commercial interests of these
states are closely related. Northern
Idaho has been Il real factor in the
DEVELOPMENT of one of the most pros
porous. cities of Washington. South
orn idaho and oregon have always
possessed much in common railroad
Journey from northern to southern Ida
ho or the reverse trip are through
both the states of Washington and
Oregon Our common interests depend
on the fact that these three states
are progressive states in the process OF
active development, and that they are
rich in greatly diversified, though SIM
liar. resources. The lumber industry,
mining, stock raising and agriculture
are common to all three states. The
sea board gives to the two western
states an industry not possessed by
Idaho, and the larger cities Of those
for manufacturing and larger CONNER
cal concerns.
"Thcre is no other basis for three
medical laws for Washington, oregon
and Idaho than political divisions. The
physicians along the border lines reg
istercd in one state only are not limit
ed 10y political boundaries. The earl
lest interests of these states were COM
by the same classes of people. SO much
is this true that the laws of any one
of these states could be applied with
equal results to the other two states
conditions affecting the practice OF
medicine and surgery are in these
three states so nearly identical that
without amy concerted effort. our leg
islators with little guidance from the
profession have given. us three laws
with little practical differences. Nc
one of these states reciproCates with
others. Washington has no reciprocity
and no direct provision for it; oregon
has no reciprocity, but its law makes
optional provision for it; Idaho may
Icciprocate in modified way and has
completed a reciprocity treaty witt
the state of Utah. But the Idaho law
with Il specified basis of organization
with an average grade of 80 per cent
will not appeal to many states willing
to enter into reciprocal relations.
Certificates Exchanged.
"After considerable correspondence
the secretary of the Idaho State Boarc
of Medical Examiners, in a period o
two years, has been able to compet,
arrangements for exchange of ccrtif
Gates with but one state. A uniform
law with fun and complete recipro
city for the three northwest state
would best solve this question amon
ourselves.
''From a board and superficial vieV
one is led to the conclusion that reel
pfocity of medical licensure should b
comprehensive and be extended to al
the states. But to start WITH thi
would not be reciprocity to the north
western states, There can be no reel
procity without mutual concessions
Practically no physicians from thes
states remove eastward to practic
their profession. Our numbers ar
largely made up and continually in