The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-03-28
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

The Journal of the American Medi-
cal Association comments upon paper
read before the recent convention of
that body, suggesting that 1.-The expert
knowledge of the medical profession
could be utilized by the public press in
two ways: first, by the dissemination
through the newspapers of scientific
knowledge which would be of value to
the public in preventing disease, and
second, in placing at the disposal of
those newspapers, which desired it,
the expert knowledge of the medical
profession in separating worthy and
reputable from dishonest and disrepu-
table institutions which might seek
publicity through the newspapers"
At the same time the Journal very
graEely insists that this does not JUS
tify the personal exploitation of any
physician, that being against profess
siOnal ethics. iii otner words, the press
is free to publish reports of medical
science, pro bono publico, in the ma
ture of the case. advertising certain
medical men, building up great rep
utation for them, although profession
al ethics debars the latter from making
the slightest return to the press.
The press has never failed in it's
duty to the public in disseminating
medical news, but the task is made an
unnecessarily distasteful and migrate
full one by the supercilious attitude of
physicians towards newspaper adver-
Using. AS if it were right for pro-
fession that depends so largely for it's
reputation upon publicity to deny the
ethical value of the highest sort of adj
vertising; as if one should f1out the
stairs by which he ascends.
This unreasonable attitude towards
the press would be excused however if
1t were sincere. But it is not. The
wise physician knows that his useful.
ness is increased. in due proportion to
the knowledge and appreciation of
him by the public; and besides it's
meaning extra dollars to him, adds to
his professional fame. A claim other.
wise is mere pretense, nor is the posi-
ton taken by the Journal of the Med
tcal Association a sound one, when
it says:
"A professional man has no COM
modify to SELL his only assets are his
scientific knowledge and his personal
ability; and he who claims to possess
greater knowledge or greater skill
than his professional associates
whether physicians, preachers or law
yers-is an egotist, or worse, and for
feits the respect of both his profess
sional brethren and his fellow citizens"
II brains and professional ability
have no merchantable value, then in
deed the Journal is right, but every
one knows that the prescription, the
brief, or the sermon that man writes
has as clear monetary value (and he
usually gets it) as the goods sold over
a counter, or the farm product brought
to market. The professional mans
income depends in large measure upon
the ability he possesses, and he has as
good a right to advertise that ability
as any other man has. Indeed a moral
obligation rests upon him thus to serve
the public by saving it from the
of a less efficient man,
The truth is that if professional men
were not bound by this fact, designed
to hide the inferiority of the weaker
members of their respective profess
'ions, less would be heard of unethi. |
'al advertising, and more of personal
merit, to the great advantage of the |
general public.