Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-07-09
THE HASKELL.KLAUS LAW.

many diseased and crippled children
have been helped, and IN many instan-
ces made whole, at the University
Hospital at Iowa City.
July first the Haskell-Klaus law,
which extends the benefits of the Per-
kins Law to adults, will be in effect.
This law was passed by both houses
Of the General Assembly without
dissenting vote. 1t is everywhere
looked upon as one of the most help
full and constructive pieces Of legisla-
ton ever put upon the statute books
of this or any other state. The object
of this article is to acquaint the peo-
pie 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 bverseer of the poor, pro-
baton officer, a public health nurse,
minister, priest or policeman, regard
ing any citizen of his district who is
suffering from a deformity or malady
that can probably be helped by med
ical or surgical attention and hospital
care, and who is not able to provide
to provide for same, cause a 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 report
to the court on blanks furnished by
the state as to whether or not, in
his opinion, the patient may be help
ed by medical or surgical treatment
and hospital care. If the physician re-
ports, that, in his opinion, the patient
may be helped, and it is found that
he or she is not able to pay for the
necessary treatment and hospital
care, the court will commit such pa
tient (the patient himself consenting)
to the hospital of the College of Med
icine of the State University of Iowa
for treatment and care.
The actual cost Of caring for such |
patients who are thus committed is
paid by the state. Members Of the
medical faculty receive nothing for
their services except such salaries as
are paid them by the State Univer-
sity.
/ To put 1t another way, any Judge
of district or superior court, ply
stefan, overseer Of the poor, proba-
ton officer, public health nurse, min
lister, priest or policeman, who has
knowledge OF any citizen of Iowa who
needs medical or surgical treatment
or hospital care, and who is not able
to pay for the same, may set the ma
chinery in motion to. have such per-
son taken care of and 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 n the
case may be. The information being
filed, the court attends to. the rest.
Anyone not of these classes specifi-
cally named in the statute, can act
through them. That is to say, any
one who knows of a deserving per-
son who would come under the pro-
visions of this law may 60 to any
doctor, overseer Of the poor, proba-
ton officer, public health nurse, min
lster, priest or policeman, call his at
IGNITION to the case and get him to
die the necessary information.
4 faro chOn1d ha orJ
doubtless will be exercised by the
c0urts-to see to it that none but
hose properly entitled to the bene-
its Of this law take advantage of it.
At the same time, no deserving per-
ION should be deprived OF the priv
leses which the state has SO gener-
,usly provided. is%s9, !. sass@s,,---,
The University Hospital has always
AIKEN care Of those recommended to
t by physicians, county officials and
minister's of the gospel, as not able
o pay the usual medical, surgical
Ind hospital charges, but who could
nevertheless, pay for hospital care at
actual cost. Such patients were
known as clinical patients" No fee
was ever charged clinical patient
by any member of the hospital staff.
Such cases will continue to be re-
ceived on like terms, and no one
should seek to enter the University
Hospital under the provisions of the
Law unless he or she
is so circumstance as not to be able |
to pay by and for himself or herself
the actual cost of hospital care. There
are, however, many people even in
our own favored state of Iowa, who
cannot afford to pay even for what
comes under the term Hospital
Care" and 1t is for the benefit Of
such persons that this law was en-
acted.
The results of the Perkins Law
have appealed to the people OF this
state as few things have done. More
than four thousand children have
been helped. Many seemingly DOOM
ed to lives of dependency and suffer-
ing have been put in the way of be-
coming self-supporting happy men
and women. 1t is to restore and
bring back to health and usefulness
older persons who, but for this law.
might be doomed to lives of suffer-
ing and but partial usefulness, that
this Haskell-Klaus Law was enacted.
That it will prove blessing and
H..