Evening star., 1927-05-18

NCpAASaAlucO AApAA It lISb dSSsJ
trregulars Of every description, as we'll
as diploma mills Of the lowest type.
1.-THE House of elegates-through
its membership from the several
States-affords it's aid and support to
the Medical Society of the District of
Columbia by suitable representations
to the members of the Senate and
House Of Representatives, and urges
similar cooperation from the various
State associations in securing this
much needed egislation-fostered by
the District of Columbia society,""
Modelled on New York Law.
DR.. Wall said today that it is the
hope of the District Medical Society
to get Congress to approve a bill,
modelled after the New York law, pro.
vfding for comprehensive and COM
posite board to examine all who seek
to practice as doctors to determine
their fitness in fundamental branches.
This Is, he said, for the purpose of
making sure that they can tell what
is the matter with a patient before
attempting to treat the patient, ir-
@~Sl'S%IAAAS VI NAloN itCbAOo I'll lICdI~
ment they may employ. Such a law
is in force in number of States and
1t is to bring the District of Columbia
up to such standards where it is now
disgracefully lax, those behind the pro-
posed general medical practice act
say.
The present law, DIR. Wall points
out, was enacted in 1895 and does not
define what medical practice is, leav-
ing the field wide open for any
charlatans, for any method of prac.
tice so long as it cannot be shown
that they have prescribed drugs.
Emphasizing that Washington has
become a mecca for operators of
diploma mills which give degrees of
every description, DR.. Wall called at
tention to the university" organized
by Office boys of The Washington
Star, which was incorporated under
the District laws at a cost of only
$2.45. as an object lesson in the lax
situation here. This institution"
was authorized under law to give in
struct1on in the sciences Of chirpo-
ratio and physiotherapy." In show
ing what a fertile field Washington
has been for unscientif1c practice. DR..
Wall displayed an article from The
Star which reported the fact that ap-
proximately so men and women, hold
ers OF degrees of doctor Of osteopathy,
appeared in the United States attor.
ney's Office on February 8 in response
TO subpoenas and were questioned by
Miss Pearl Mccall, assistant United
States attorney, as to the source of
their diplomas.
Other Societies Cooperating.
This batch of subpoenas resulted
from revelations made the week be-
fore by officials of the Osteopathic AS
sociation of the District of Columbia
that an unknown number of persons
were engaged in the practice Of oste-
opathy here on the authority of diplo.
mas issued after a three-days course
In 1928 at a local chiropractic school,
Supporting the Medical Society Of
Washington in urging enactment Of
the Copeland bill are the Homeo-
pathic Medical Society and the Oste.
opathic Society. Each member of the
Senate District committee has been
told by DR.. Wall and the physicians
cooperating with him that these or
ganizations "are strongly Of the opin-
ion that a composite board, including
members Of all schools of practice.
such as is provided for by the Cope
land bill, should pass upon the creden-
tials of any one seeking to treat the
sick in the District Of Columbia -
They say that the only opposition to
the Copeland bill comes from certain
chiropractors and from irregular prac-
titioners Of various schools, some of
whom wish separate boards of exami-
ners to be established for the purpose
OF examining adherents Of their vari-
Gus sects.
Provision Is made in the Copeland
bill, DIR. Wall emphasizes. to license
persons already practicing any method
OF healing, as the organizations urging
the passage of the Copeland bill
realize that such individuals have a
property right which should not be
forcibly taken from them by new
legislation. The whole purpose Of the
Copeland bill is to protect the people
Of the District from incompetent per-
sons who undertake the care and
treatment of the sick, without suf-
fcfent education to determine their
fitness to be trusted with the health,
or perhaps life, Of the citizens.
Assails diploma Mills"
Commenting on the diploma mills
an Washington, DIR. Wall says;
This disgraceful state of affairs
so far as it relates TO turning loose
upon the community improperly
trained persons 10 treat the sick, will
be corrected by passage Of the legis
lation incorporated in the Copeland
bin"
In opposing the bill to regulate the
practice OF ChirOpractic by creation OF
n chiropractic examining board, which
was defeated at the last session OF
Congress, the District Medical Society
argued that a single board, or proper
ly co-ordinated boards, insures greater
efficiency, economy and ability in the
execution and enforcement Of all Ii
Censing laws. 1t was urged that this
legislation should be studied in con
nection with legislation TO regulate
the practice of the healing arts gen
orally, including non-sectarian medi
cine, Osteopathy, naturopathy, sani
practice, poropathy and the numerous
FOther healing cults. 1t was stated
that every one of them has the same
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