Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-22

Editor OF the Journal
Since the Introduction Of a bin h5
Senator Docpp 10 amend the existine
medical law. I have noticed adverse
criticisms by some ~ the newspa
pers II the state. Criticism which
does not touch one real provision OF
The bill and reflects on the honesty
'of purpose Of tho medical profession
~ the state as a whole. and the New
Mexico Medical society in particular
I cannot. as an official Of that body
lrt pass without statement Of fact
regarding It's provisions and the
reasons for its support by the medi-
cal profession ~ the state
Tor Interest of Public.
All laws regulating the practice OF
medicine and an laws relating IA
quarantine. sanitation and the pub
he health are for the protection Of
the people Of The state and not, az
some seem Go think. for the protec-
ton Of the medical profession. Med
ical arganiza ti0ns necessarily take up
these questions as they pertain 10
matters in which they are specially
interested and have special training.
They deem il part Of their duty as
good. loyal citizens to render this
service 10 the public The public
man, whether he be editor or lcgis-
lator. who fav0rs the abolition of all
laws regulating the practice of medi-
cine. H. So far behind the trend of
modern thought and present day ad-
Vancement IN conserving the health
and lives Of the people that IL would
seem unnecessary TO direct any argu-
ment TO him. as every state in the
United states and all civilized coun-
tries require a license To practice
medicine, such license being issued
after some test of the applicants fit
ness both mentally ana morally. u
rs the duty Of the state 20 protect the
citizen from the charlatan and pre-
tender. the ignorant and the unfit
Not only does this apply 70 the ply
stefan but 10 all the professions ami
some trades.
The Physicians Duty.
The physicians duty TO the public
Is perhaps the most important from
the fact that the lives and health Of
whole communities depend, frequent
ly. on his being able to diagnose cor
rectlv many contagious and iufec-
tious diseases such as typhoid fever,
smallpox, diphtheria. scarlet fever,
tuberculosis. cerehro-spinal meningi-
us, cholera, yellow fever, hubonic
plague. etc. etc, The old, WORKOUT
argument that "a mans ills are his
own" and he should be left free 10
employ whatever means he chooses
or no means al all. TO relieve them,
cannot hold good today This argu-
ment might have held good fifty
years ago, but IN the light OF modern
discovery as To the etiology, or caus-
alton. Ut disease, We know mat "a
vast majority Of the diseases with
which we are afflicted are commun-
fcahie and preventable. SO the state
cannot afford TO permit the indiyid-
uAl to ieopardize the lives and health
OF the people as q whole That the
individuals. IN many cases. would be
unable to judge as 10 the compe-
tence of their medical adviser, should
the state permit all who choose TO
practice medicine, we know by past
experiences. This IS true in all the
professions ana many of tie trades
Fixes Requirements.
The average critic Of medical laws
seems 20 lay great stress on school
or system Of practice This hiil
has no reference whatever to school
m so-ealled system Of practice, i
simu,v fixes IA minimum requirement
for All applicants that they should
have n fair academic education. be
OF good moral character and have an
elementary knowledge, az least, OF
anatomy. physiology. chemistry, bac-
lteriology, etc, necessary TO enabie
| Them 10 recognize disease and dag
nose the same. regardless Of school
or system of practice and, showing
these qualifications, they may prac-
! tlce any means whatever In the treat
ment 81 their patients that they MAY
choose, that being a matter between
| the practitioner and his patient, sun
iect only to the laws bearing on mat
practice with which this bill has
nothing to do.
Opposition to Bill.
! II Il stated that this bill has beer
before both former sessions OF tn'
legislature since statehood and fan
ed each time because Of popular OBJ
lection TO IT. This is a misstatemen
Of facts, and IL there is now a popu