The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-25
PREVENT DOCTORS
FROM TtSTIFYING
Wendenburg Bill Evokes Warm
Discussion in Senate
Committee.

-'NsoNHS vi SiHtS ~ tunes upon per-
sonal reflection met Senator Wendcn-
burg's bin designed TO prevent ply
sicians, nurses or other attendants
upon person injured by accident from
tesulying, except With the consent OF
the Injured person, at hearing before
the Senate Committee for Courts OF
Justice yesterday afternoon The ar
turn That Senator walker, who was
presiding. stopped tho hearing short
70 remind the lawyers that the COM
m!ttec was Interested only In matters
having to do strictly with the bill
under discussion.
Senator WendenburE took the floor
In his opinion the proposed law would
I'LL real need 1T is TOO often the
case" he said that the attending ply
S wbilH secures Se from from an injured man
semi conscious from the influence OF
onesthetics, statements in regard to
inc accident; which arc later intro
duced az evidence against him. Par
ticularly is this true In the case of
physicians TO corporations. TO whose
interest In aiding the patient is added
tho Interest of making as good case
as possible of 1t for the company
which employn him"
Months Should De Closed.
For these reasons. thouhSt senator
closing the months OF physicians and
nurses attendant upon accidents, and
making their testimony without the
consent OF the injured person in
valid.
I'm, my personal experience" he de-
ciared. II have encountered case OF
this kind. \ young boy in this city
fell while trying TO board street car
and had his legs cut OF. The attend
ing physician secured from him
statement. and the boy died shortly af
physician testified at the suit for dam
ages which followed that the victim
stated to him before he died that nc
was trying to steal ride, and the
there was no one TO contradict tho
evidence Of the physician"
Challenges Statement.
II will ask the Senator from Hen rico
to name the case and the attending
physician" interrupted Attorney A. B.
Guigon. of the Virginia Railway and
ferred him to the records Of the, case
and samed the company's physician.
DR., Henry Stuart Mclean.
In a WARM speech A1r. Gu!gon took
issue with Mr.. WendenburE on the case
In question, and characterized hls YER
sion OF II as an unmerited reflection
on the character of Dr.. Mclean. which
he could not help resenung.. He re-
minded the committee that Mr.. Wen
denburg waited until this late day. fac
years after the case had happened, to
bring the charge, when he had the
coign OF vantage of his position as
Senator to aid him.
When "a moment later Mr.. Guison
characterized tho bill "as piece OF
Legislation TO afford revenge for lost
cases. Mr., wendenburG lcapcd to his
feet with protest against the un-
parli,nmentary lansuass. end tho
man.
4 Needless Law.
The law" said Mr.. Guigon, would
be a needless reflection on two OF tho
the noblcst professions in the world,
those OF medicine and trained nursing.
On the strength Of single case. in
which he claims there was misuse
rico seeks 20 debase every physician
in the employ OF. a corporation. and
to destroy tho right Of two honorable
professions 10 testify"
In an experience OF fifteen years, said
Mr.. Guigon. nc had known the COM
pany's physician to be called upon hut
damages. Such law, he, thought.
could frequently be made the instru-
rnent OF fraud by impostora seeking
TO obtain damages for imaginary in
Other Opposition.
Attorney David II Leakc, of the
Norfolk and Western Railway, thought
that the bill was enormously ba sed
siclans, and suggested that there might
be a question as 10 its constitution
atty. Attorney w. B. McIlwaine. OF
Petersburg. and Attorney Wood. OF
Roanoke. spoke along the same lines
against the enactment of the measure
into law.
Mr.. Guigon requested another hear
ing before the committee took action
on the bill, to introduce the records
OF the case cited by Senator Wenden-
burg, which he felt had an important
bearing on the matter. The commit
tee fixed Wednesday, January 81, as
the time for another hearing.
other Bills Taken Up.
Attorney Randolph Harrison. OF
Lynchburs. appeared In support of
Senator Thornton's bill, providing for
the resubmission TO the people of the
proposed amendment to the Conetitu-
ton in relating to the terms of office
of treasurcrs In the cities. a further
hearing on the bill was set for Friday.
January 20
up and reassigned to later dates for
various reasons. Among these was
Senator Drewrys bill creating a bu-
reau of vital statistics, which was set
for n hearing on Friday. January 26.
IA.