New Britain herald., 1925-02-03
.DlsCUssT' LAW ON
 MEDICAL PRACTICE
Hartlc,d Editor Explains Need
 Of New Legislation

 alton of a joint examining board for medical practitioners, was discussed at a meeting of the New Britain Lions club today by 0. c, Hemen- way of the editorial staff of the Hartford Times.
 Others present who spoke for a short time were Rev. John L. Davis of New York, formerly district gov ernor of Lions club and former pas tor of the local M. E. church, and w. c. French. principal of the Cen tral Junior High school, who has returned after a years leave of ab. sence. MT. French Is past president of the club. P. F. King, chairman oi the board of education. and former president of the club, also spoke.
 Dave Young, Scotch comedian. led the singing and muste was furnished by Joe Fazzina and his plano-accor- dion. The attendance prize, donated by Attorney Stanley Traceski, was won by Harry G. Hancock.
 In his discussion of the medical practice act, MT. Hemenway said in part:
 Everyone probably Is familiar with the need for new law to gov. ern the practice of the act of heal !ng. Some well informed people have known for years that condi- tons in the state were not all they should be for the protection of the . lives and health of those who are dependent upon doctors, but 1t re- quired a grand jury investigation and the sentencing of some people to jail to interest the state at large in the situation.
 The history of that grand jury inquiry and the main facts which were brought out are familiar to most of you. It suffices to say that it was learned that Connecticut was a dumping ground for the fiy-by- night alleged medical colleges of the country to dump the output of their diploma mills. It had established the unenviable reputation of being one of the easiest states for the poorly quail flied or even entirely unqualified practitioner to get foothod.
 Heretofore the custom has been to recognize the different schools of healing as they acquire standing and to appoint board to conduct exam nations in each school. The board was composed of practitioners in that school. That made each school the custodian of its own morals and conduct.
 That is all abolished in the new law. There is to be one examining board, if the law passes, and that board will not include the represent atives of any school of healing. It Is to be composed of la. men. Hereafter Connecticut isn't gong to take so much interest in the school of prac- tice to which the applicant for H. cense belongs as it does in his funda' mental fitness of character and train Ing to assume responsibility for the care of the sick.
 Hereafter, if this law passes, Connecticut will require certain fundamental training and kaowl- edge. Once he can assure the ex- aminers that he has that training and if a fit person to be allowed to practice, the licensee Is at liberty to practice according to any school he enae At Jt ie tokap fnr prante5 nf7 course, that a physician who is well trained will not use any method which is not suitable. Furthermore, the board is authorized to appoint a grievance board and the physician who abuses the right to practice may be summoned before it.
 Now what are to be the require ments? In the first place no one now in practice who has been legally licensed and whc has practiced no fraud in obtaining his license will be deprived of his right to practice. A reasonable knowledge is to be re- quired of physiological chemistry, biophysics, biology, parasitology. toxicology, human physiology, anat- omy, pathology, embryoogy and hygiene, etc, in other words a mini mum of training in the basic physio- logical sciences. A minimum of gen. eral education also will be required.
 ''Is there anyone here who wants to be treated by doctor whose training is any less, regardless Of the school to which lie belongs.
 | "One thing should be made clear because representatives of certain , schools are sure to raise cry about the doctors trust and to charge that they are being discriE1inated against. When this cry arises bear in mind that no barrier against any school Or cult is raised by this proposed law. Indeed 1t is required that all exam ination shall be so conducted as not to discriminate against the particu- lar views of any bonafide organiza- ton, sect or school as to any reme- dies or treatment of any system of therapeutics.
 Nothing could be fairer than that and nothing could De more reason able or intelligent than this proposed new method of determining the qualifications of those who ask the right to heal our ills. After all the thing to be interested in is not the right of men to earn a living by practicing a profession which they may not have properly and ade- quately learned. but the protection of the public health and safety. That is the one thing to keep in mind. If Connecticut had had the kind of a law that is now asked we should have escaped much of our recent trouble. By all means let us have it now that the evils of the old system and its dangers have been pointed out to us. Let us, as good citizens, put our influence behind this legis- lation and demand that it be enacted 1 into law"