The Washington times., 1917-01-06
DENIES EMERGENCY
STAFF WALKED OUT
President Woodbury. Blair Win.
dicates Four Young Doctors
Who Were Involved.

Denying reports to the effect tina.
four members of the staff at the
Emere lcy Hospital had walked
out" and vindicS ting the reputation
OF the four young internes who re-
signed a few days ago, Woodbury.
Blair, president of the hospital. has
made public the following letter:
"A report has been published to the
effect that -four OF the surgeons OF
the surgical staff of the Emergency
Hospital walked out Of the hospital
at midnight, December 81, as a pro
test against the appointment of DIT.
Paul Putski as medical director and
Mr.. Anthony Tall as business manager
OF the hospital. leaving only three
surgeons on duty at the hospital"
Source Il Questioned.
81 do not undertake to assume from
what source this erroneous statement
could eminate or who would be so
malicious and unjust as to deliberate
~ mislead our. public press and cast
such serious reflections upon the pro-
fessional ethics and humanity Of the
your young gentlemen referred to,
who are virtually accused Of walking
out Of the hospital at midnight with
out notice or due regard for the seri-
Gus consequences which might ensue
to the public
As a matter of fact. not one Of the
DOCTORS who are accused of walking
out of the hospital was on the attend.
ing STAFF; they were all interns on
the house staff. The interns of the
hospital-whose principal duties are
TO go out with the ambulance, give
first aid in emergency cases, and ex-
ecute the instructions OF the attending
phys1ctans-are, as a rule, recent
graduates from medical schools who
are selected by the attending staff
on account of their character fitness
and aptitude, and are appointed for q
definite period, during which they
give their time and services In ex-
change for practical experience
and instruction obtained at the hospi-
tai 1t is always q matter OF record
at which date an intern is to termin-
ate his connection with the hospital:
and in the cases referred to, three
of the gentlemen had served the term
agreed upon between them and the
staff, but the fourth-on his
own request-had been given an ad-
ditional term of three months.
Terms Expired.
All of the terms, including the
additional three months allowed to the
fourth intern, expired December 81
at midnight, when they left the hos
pital as was expected, without crea-
ting the slightest inconvenience to the
house staff, the patients, or the am
bulanee service.
The Emergency Hospital has always
been fortunate never more 90 than
securing as interns young
men Of exceptional ability and intel
ligence. who attend strictly to their
professional duties; and no one ap-
preciates more than the interns the alb
surdity Of the accusation that they
would conspire to effect a walkout be-
cause the board Of directors did not
consult with them or defer TO their
wishes in the matter. of appointments
and the administration Of the hospital
The Central Dispensary and Ener-
gency Hospital Is largely civic insti-
tuition. and It may. be of interest to the
general public and: our local press to
know that the present superintendent
OF the. hospital Is Mr.. Anthony Tai,
former assistant superintendent OF the
Post Graduate Hospital, Of New York;
that the chief resident physician Is DIR.
Paul S. Putzki. who with DR.. Sidney
Cousins, DR.. Austin c. Conway, and
DIR. Louis C. McCanna. took the place
of the four whose terms expired on
December 81.
II would add that never before in the
history OF the Emergency Hospital has
IL rendered more general and efficient
service to the public than at present