Evening star., 1926-03-21
DOCTORS ATTACK
PERIL IN PARKING
Say Life or Death May Be in
Balance When Use of Car
Is Restricted.
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.
Automobile Editor of The star

When human life hangs i1 the bal-
ance and the difference in time be "
tween the call and arrival of a physi
clan marks the difference between liz"
and death, should the inaccesibility o.
restricted parking of an automobile be-
permitted to rule the situation?
Physicians say that inability to paris
their cars close at hand for emel
gency calls and compliance with the
parking regulations when visiting pa
tients have in many cases caused =.
loss of time that either directly or in
directly has resulted in the loss Ot
many lives that might otherwise have
been saved.
The question and statement, asked
and made by DR.. r.. G.. Seibert, prom
inent member of the Medical SOcietE
of the District of Columbia, are the
flare Of the spark of resentment let
loose yesterday when DR.. CharltN
White charged Traffic Director
Eldridge with being inhuman, be
cause of his indifference to parkin-.
conditions in front of the Medical
Building. where hundreds of sick
come every day for treatment.
Difficult to Respond.
According to DIR. Seibert, the scan
consideration accorded medical m"n
by public officials and the general
public alike is making il more ami
more difficult for physicians 10 re
spect an obligation of their profe>-
sion to answer the calls Of humlN
distress.
For the most part. physicians o.
on call are engaged in an irnmeaS-
uraby valuable public service Df.
Seibert said, "and the time has come
in this day Of cOngested traffic con
ditions when that service should be
recognized and the medical profes-
sion be given the cooperation or the
public and public officials.
1--WE don't ask to be permitted TO eX-
ceed the speed limits or violate any ct
the rules of traffic. HoNe do not ask
special favors when doing our Sh"p-
ming as private citizens or when er-
gagged in social calls. What we q"
desire is to be permitted to keep our
cars within easy reach ana To De III
mune to arrest when parked overtime
in pursuance of our professional du-
ties.
Representing the Medical Society
of the District of Columbia. / have in
the past appeared before congress
sionaI committees and before the local
traffic authorities, seeking the author
zation of insignia that would permit
us to make emergency calls without
moleStation on the part of the ponce.
always l have been turned back,
politely enough. with the explanation
that no special class could be favored.
yet taxicab companies are given
special concessions because of then
| public service and | challenge the
value of their public service Over
that of the medical profession.
,.n..yY:o IS:, SuTora,.
, "Physicians will lose many p.'-
| tients in times other than the periods
| of flu and pneumonia enidemics be
cause of the restricted use OF theu
cars. and the public Is the big SUI
ferer. So now l should like LAY
our case before the public for any
action it sees fit to take before IN"
District authorities
Many of the large cities of the
| country grant special parking PRIV
ileges to physicians, according 10 a
| large file of letters in possession "t
| DIR. Seibert. These letters were III
reply to queries on the subject SEM
! out by the District Medical Society
| A canvass among a number OF
physicians yesterday brought out the
recital of many instances OF pro-
longed suffering. near-death and loss
! Of life, charged TO ueldy que ~ pdi IN
| ing restrictions.
Several of the medical men were
plainly Indifferent TO any view the
authorities NAV take of the situation.
| IT'S up to the public" they said.
in effect, well do the best we can
! One physician ventured the opinion
| that there will he nothing done until
| after death beats the doctor in n
race into the home of some high
official who can make or break local
4 reCllIatiOnS