The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-22
COLLEGE CONTROL
Of CITY HOSPITAL
TO Be DISCUSSED
Medical Society in Special
Session viii Hear Argument
on Proposal Which Has
Split Ranks Of Profession.

Members Of the Memphis and Shelby
county Medical society will attemut
Monday night at special meeting to
reach decision upon the merits of the
nLoposed contract which the city of
memphis Is asked to enter into with the
University, Of Tennessee Medical college,
under which the college faculty would
De given complete control of all staff
appointments at the General hospital for
a period of 20 years,
Ihat would carry with 1t the control
OF the hospital, except the actual bust
,fact, and an ordinance which embodies
ts principal provisions, recognizes the
Guys nominal control Of the hospital,
through the board of trustees by whom
IN tact, the staff appointments are to be
made as at present, but all staff nomi
nations, including the chiefs of staff
Oh tle Tour departments, are to be made
ny tne dean Of the medical college, act
lng, for the college faculty and trustees,
anu tne result of the, contract will, 1t Is
admitted, result practically in turning
over complete control to the university
IN return for these privileges, the con-
tract provides that the university trus-
tees snail erect on the General hospital
GROUNDS modern and completely equip
ped laboratory, to cost from $4,000 to
1000, which will be operated for the
Joint benefit of the hospital and the
medical college, and to continue to treat
az out patients of the hospital free of
all charge to the city
AS matter Of fact, the medical COL
lege now has all these privileges, except
that the appointment OF members of the
summer staff, who serve during the four
summer months when the medical col
lege Is not in session, Is made upon the
appointment of physicians who are NOT
members OF the college faculty
That Is the bone Of contention in the
present controversy. The physicians and
surgeons who are not members Of the
college faculty, insist that they have a
| moral right to be represented upon the
| hospital staff and that numbers Of
| young physicians not connected with the
| college have a right to recognition In
! these appointments, which carry with
ne nonors that are highly regarded by
| the medical profession.
| They insist that the city has no right
/ to turn complete control OF the hospital
| over to the medical college, in spite OF
| the statement that unless that is done.
the rating of the college will be reduced
| by the American Medical associations
| council OF education. The college has
class A rating, and under most recent
| rulings no medical college which does
not control a hospital can retain that
| rating.
The trustees Of the hospital favor the
proposed change Apparently MAORI
/ ty Of the present city commission also
| favor it, SO II has been stated to mem :
bers of the incoming city administra-
| ton. f
| II has been stated that young ply
siclans who volunteer their services in
the out-patient department receive
these summer appointments, but many
members Of the profession claim that
while that Is a fact, the appointments
even now 30 largely to graduates OF the
medical college to the exclusion OF
equally competent men from other COL
leges
Or, II. A, Morgan, president of the
University Of Tennessee, and Or. Saun.
ders OF Nashville. member Of tn,
board Of trustees and president of tn,
State Medical association, are expectet
TO address the members OF the medica
society on the necessity of carrying ou
4 q I.