Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-07-10
THE HAsKELL.KLAUs Law

Nearly everyone in Iowa knows
about the Perkins Law, under whose
beneficient provisions so many dis
eased and crippled children have
been helped, and in many instances
made whole, at the University Hospi-
tai at Iowa City.
July first the Haskell-Klaus Law,
which extends the benefits of the
feet This law was passed by both
houses of the general assembly with
out a dissenting vote. 1t is every.
where looked upon as one OF the
most helpful and constructive pieces
of legislation ever put upon the
statute books of this or any other
state. The object of this article is
to acquaint the people generally
with the provisions of this law.
Briefly stated, they are as follows:
Any judge of district or superior
court, may on his own motion or on
information furnished him by ply
stefan, an oyerseer of the poor, a
probation officer, a public health
nurse, minister, priest or policeman,
regarding any citizen of his district
who is suffering from a deformity or
malady that can probably be helped
by medical or surgical attention and
hospital care, and who Is not able to
provide for same, cause hearing to
be had and an investigation to be
made; first, through the office of the
county attorney as to the circum-
stances of the patient, and second
by local physician. who shall re-
port to the court on the blanks fur
nished by the state as to whether OF
not, in his opinion, the patient may
be helped by medical or surgical
treatment and hospital care. If the
physician reports that. in his opinion
the patient may be helped, and II
is found that he or she is not able to
pay for the necessary treatment and
hospital care, the court will commit
such patient 1.-THE patient himself
consenting) to the hospital of the
College of Medicine of the State Uni
versity of Iowa for treatment and
care.
The actual cost of caring for such
paid by the state. Members of the
medical faculty receive nothing for
their services except such salaries as
are paid them by the State Uni
versity.
To put ii another way, any judge
OF district or superior court, ply
stefan, overseer of the poor. proba-
tion officer, public health nurse
minister, priest or policeman who
has knowledge OF any citizen of Iowa
who needs medical or surgical treat
ment or hospital care, and whois not
able to pay for the same, may. set the
person taken care of anil provided
with the best that modern medical
science affords.
Judges. of course. have the proper
blanks at hand; others can secure
them at the office of the clerk of the
district or superior court as the case
may be. The information being
filed. the court attends to the rest.
Anyone not of these classes sps
officially named in the statute, can
act through them. That is TO say,
anyone who knows of a deserving,
person who would come under the
pFONlSlOiS VI inns law may 81 " any
doctor. overseer of the poor, proba-
ton officer. public health nurse.
minister, priest or policeman, call his
attention to the case and get him TO
file the necessary Information.
Care should be exercised. and
doubtless will be exercised by the
courts-to see to il that none but
those property Untitled 20 the 3ene-
fits of this law take advantage OF il.
At the same time, no deserving per-
son should be deprived of the privi-
leges which the state has So gener-
ously provided
The University Hospital has al
ways taken care of those recommend
ed by physicians. county officials,
ministers of the gospel, as not able
to pay the usual medical, surgical.
and hospital charges, but who could.
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