Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-27
MIXED MEDICAL
BOARD PLAN IS
DENOUNCED
"lrreguIars" Claim "ReguIars"
Might Tyrannize Profession if
Proposed Bill Becomes Law.

A bill to be fought out in the Legis-
iature creating a composite board of
medical examiners for the State Of
Georgia, framed by the American
Medical Association. has brought
storm of protests from large num-
Der of physicians not only in Atlanta,
but throughout the State.
The bin provides for a board of
eight members, composed of eight
practicing physicians Of integrity and
ability, who shall be residents of, and
babe been duly licensed to practice
medicine in this State and who shall
have graduated from reputable medi-
cal schools and have been engaged in
the active practice of their profess
sion within this State for at least
a period of five years, but omen of
them shall be connected in any way
with any medical college"
Five members Of this board shall
, De regular physicians, two shall be
eclectic physicians and one shall be
homeopathic physician, all to be
appointed by the Governor
And here come one of the greatest
issues Five out of the eight mem
oers are 10 be regular" or afopathic
physicians, two eclectic and one
homeopathic 1t is the contention Of
the physicians outside the ranks of
the regulars" that if the examiners
saw ht-and they might-only alo-
paths would be permitted to practice
medicine in Georgia. The two ac-
clectics and one homepath constitute
small minority of the board as
provided in the bill.
&C.. Regulars" Might Get Jobs
A president, vice president and sec
rotary treasurer are to be selected by
the board, and salaries shall be paid
out OF the funds of the board. The
superstition is that these officers will
be selected from the ranks of the
regulars as they have the majority
These funds are provided further on
In the bill.
Applicants must pass examinations
as pescribed by the board and must
be graduates of colleges recognized
by thre board. The board also has
the right to revoke the license of any
physician at any time, for causes as
adopted by the board.
Each applicant must have his GER
titicate recorded by the clerk in the
county where he resides and prac-
tees his profession, the applicant to
pay a fee for the same.
Under this act the board has the
right TO pass upon the good stand
ing of any medical college. Only such
medical colleges will be considered
| in good standing as possess full
and complete faculty for the teach
ing of medicine, surgery, obstetrics
| In all their branches, afford their
ST. 4 nVaeg IL
| pltal facilities. require attendance
| upon at least so per cent of each
| course of instruction. etc.
Section 8 provides for examIna-
tons and requirements by the board
and fee of 81 shall accompany the
| application, and a like amount shall
be paid by the applicant for each
| separate subject upon which he NAV
be required to be examined.
A fee Of $50 is required of each ap-
plicant which shall accompany the
| application. A fee of $50 shall be
| paid for issuing license by reel
proeity. No part of any fee is re-
| turnable under any circumstances.
May Revoke License,
The board may refuse to grant or
| may revoke any license to practice
| medicine for score or more rea-
sons one of which is advertising.
The penalty attached to violations
Of the act is fine of from $500 to
$1,000, or by a term of two to five
years in the penitentiary, either or
| both.
The claim OF the regulars that
| five of the eight members of the
board shall be from their ranks is
| that the relative number engaged
in the practice of medicine In the
State is greater" said a prominent
physician who opposes the passage of
the bill
The board could. by a majority
| vote, refuse to grant a license 10
any but a regular or revoke the
| license of any practitioner who does
not observe the ethics of the pro-
| feSsion"