Evening journal., 1919-10-15
DOCTORS OPPOSE
COMPENSATION ACT
Claim That Law in Present
Form Works Injustice
to Physicians.
TO ASK LEGISLATURE
FOR AMENDMENTS
special to The Evening Journal.

special to The Evening Journal.
DOVER. October i5.-At the meetin.
yesterday afternoon OF the Delswar,
state Medical Society Dr. Albert Robin
Of Wilmington read a paper on "ThC
tuberculosis Problem as it Presents
ltsGlf 10 the Medical Profession in Della
ware"
Following this paper, Dr.. Cecil de J
llarbordt Of Dover, read an interesting
paper ON Auto Intoxication.'
Another paper was read by Or. Geo
G.. McElfatrick, on "N-Ray Treatment
Of llyperthyrodism."
This paper was followed with one By
Or. +. :. Dwight Of Smyrna, on IRE
port Of Cases" which proved interest
ing
Another paper was read by DR.. sam.
uci C.. RumfOrd. OF Wilmington, on
The Report Of Case Of Dermoid Cyst In
a small Girl" Dr.. BumfOrd also told
NJ a case in a woman over SO years
Of age both cases being entirely cured
The one subject Of the day which
caused considerable discussion was tht
symposium on the Workmen's Com
pensaiion Act OF Delaware together
with resolutions presented by the chair
man Of the committee, Dr.. Z. Edwin
Bird.
In presenting the question, Dr. Bird
declared that the WOrkmens COmpen-
saiion Act which affected physicians
as much as it did the employer or em-
ployed. worked an injustice TO the
physicians and that in the framing Of
The bill, the physicians had not been
consulted, in fact, had been totally ig-
nOred.
Afler further discussion on The sub
iect i'm which Or. Emil u. Aayerberg
and Or. William b. Marshall, joined. Dr.
Bird presented the following resolu-
iions which were adopted:
Whereas. The Delaware WOrkmen s
Compensation Law of 1917 and its
amendments Of 1912 were enacted with
out due consideration. OF. or consulta-
ton with the medical profession. or
with the management Of the hospitals
Of this state; and
Whereas. The said law. I'm its pres
emit form works gross injustice 20 the
physicians, in that a maximum price
is set upon their services, said maxi
mum being i'm a large percentage Of
instances totally inadequate TO recG H.
pense The physician for service rem
dered and this I'M violent contrast 20
the trend Of modern legislation; where
IN personal services have been given
o minimum wage by Jaw;
Whereas. The said law, I'm its pres
ent form works gross Injustice TO the
hospitals with which we as a profes-
sion are vtally concerned. IN that "a
maximum price is set upon their ser
vices, said maximum being IN nearly
every instance insufficient TO recon-
pense the hospital for monies actually
expended 10 maintain a bed and pro-
vide food. medicines, and nursing; and
Whereas. The said law i'm its pres
emit form works gross injustice 90 the
physician in that a time limit, namely,
fourteen DAVIS. is set,IVthin which per
iod exclusively. professional services
are compensated. regardless Of the fact
mat their services i'm the majority Of
cases must be continued for weeks af-
ter This period Of compensation, since,
under The Medical Practitioners Act a
physician once accepting a case FOR
treatment is by law compelled TO
treat the same until its conclusion by
recovery. death or dismissal by the
patient; and
Whereas. The said law in its pres
cnt form works gross injustice to the
physicians. in that it acaually robs the
patient. Of his inalienable right 0f
free choice Of physician and Of hospi-
tai: and i'm that at the same time it
creates among the profession itself a
preferred class namely: those physi-
clans who have secured the patronage
Of the larger insurance companies;
therefore be 10
Resolved, That we, the Delaware
state Medical Society, do hereby petit
lion the Delaware Legislature that this
law be so amended:
First That no maximum liability
whatsoever be named, in order that
surgeons, photographers,
technicians, and all con
Sullants may be free 20 render TO the
patient. or TO his employer, a bill for
services. that shall be just and equiia-
BILE. said bin TO be made out at the
same f0ic charged for similar services
rendered 10 non-corporation cases, and
that such bills shall be paid in full.
second. That hospitals shall receive
remuneration in full. at their regu-
larly established rates, for any and all
services rendered.
Third That there shall be no time
limit whatsoever. imposed upon the
period OF liability, in order that The
period Of treatment and the period OF
liability shall coincide exactly.
Fourth, That the patient shall have
absolutely free and independent choice
of physician and OF hospital. uninflu-
anced in any way by the employer, or