Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-22
Dr. JOyner of ROsUeH GiUes
Vieps on DOepp Medical Bill

/ lar objection 20 this bin. it is on ac-
count Of such misstatements from
sources from which the people have
right To expect fairness and aceur-
aey ~ statement. AZ the first ses-
sion 81 the state legislature COM
plete medical bin tu0t an amendment
as the present bill was passed By
both houses and WAS vetoed By the
governor after adjournment OF the
legislature. the governors reasons
for veto. as / now remember. being
that he understood the bill TO include
midwives in its provisions, which
was AN oversight on the part of its
trainers. as it was never so intended.
Al the second session practically the
same bill that is now before the leg
islature was passed by the senate and
did not set 20 vote IN the house,
principally. J. am informed, on ac-
count If the opposition Of a certain
religious sect whom Il does not affect
IN the least, and does not change their
standing under the law now in force
II they are affected by a medical law
Af all. the passage or rejection Of
senator Doepp's bill will not affect
their standing under the law.
Objections Groundless.
The statement that the bill would
give autacratic powers that mid
wives could bo fined and imprison-
ed, that druggists who administer
ed dose Of squibbs' 10 a citizen
could be soaked or jagged" that the
board would have the right TO say
what o. medicine and surgery and to
set iip rule as % what is right and
wrong la the practice Of medicine
and what physician should and
what he should not give his patients
and punish hy fine ana Imprisonment
any who declined to agree with their
views" seems SO absurd rs hardly TO
be worthy of a reply i Us difficult
to imagine how any one with aver
age Intelligence could read the pres
eut medical law which has been prac-
tieally the same in New Mexico Tor
twenty five wears and then compare
senator Doepp's bin. which only
amends three sections Of the present
law. and place such a construction
az this on f. Yet a newspaper pub
Hshed In the largest and one Of the
most progressive cities IN the state,
makes such statements.
How Law l. Amended.
section ono Ci1 Of Senator Doepp's
bu amends section two 10 fsthe
present law which relates TO time aud
place of regular meetings of the board
~ examiners the amendment preKid-
ING for only two regular meetings per
wear. whereas tae present law pro-
vldes Tor four. which experience has
shown Is often unnecessary and in
wolves unnecessary expense
section two 90 OF Senator poepp's
bin amends section three t8l of ihe
present law. Ii is this section that
marks the only important change az
our present law. This change Is de-
signed solely 10 have the medical laws
Of New Mexico conform, TO some eN-
tent Ia the medical laws of the other
states Of the union. New Mexico -
the only state in the union that IL
censes physicians solely on diploma
form q medical school Every other
state tong since adopted the require
ment Of evidence Of preliminary edu-
cation, good moral character and an
examination by a state hoard, on the
elementary branches at least, design
ed 10 discover the applicants fitness
To diagnose disease. The eNamina-
ton provided for in senator Doepp's
bin Is not rigid but the very ieast
that could be made and conform 90
the requirements in all the other
states. Under our present law the
state board OF health and medical sX.
aminers must issue license without ex-
animation TO all applicants holding a
diploma from a certain class OF medi-
cal schools all others must not
eniy hold a diploma from a reputable
medical school but must undergo an
examination more rigid than that pro-
vided In senator Doepp's bill The
/ important and essential part of this
bill IS that il places all applicants on
the same footing, requiring all to be
examined unless the applicant holds
license issued after examination BY
board of another state Of equal re-
/ quirements. which. If Senator Doepp's
amendment is adopted. would include
every state In the union as no state
would then require less than New
Mexico, whereas now. New Mexico
/ requires less to qualify to practice
medicine than any other state. The
passage Of this bin would place us on