Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-26
COMPROMISE BILL
ON HEALING SOUGHT
Trade Board Starts Move to
Unite All Practitioners
for Regulatory Law.


doctors, estcopaths and chiropractors
Of WASHINGTON in support Of a pro
roscd law which would set mp stand
ard of practice for the druG'ess nrac-
titioners. the public health committee
of the Washington Board of Trade IN
a special session last night. attended
hv representatives OF the three groups,
started a movement for the drafting
of a compromise bill providing reGula-
ton and licensing of the UUSiess
branches of treatment.
Following a frank. informal 6CH2te.
in which spokesman for all three
groups declared the urgent ec"NltN
for regulation which would est .bllSh
definite standard for the >prac ice Of
the non-medical. DR.. d. Perez Hlck-
ling. chairman of the committee, re-
ouosted Health Officer William c.
Fowler TO invite representatives OF
all groups to join in n Co.opera-
tive effort to frame a regulatory bill
DR.. Fowler in a brief statement de
ciared himself in favor of regulation
of any and al systems of healing in
which attendants diagnose the all
ments ana prescribe treatment for the
sick. and urged that an effort be made
to set up by law adequate require.
ments which would serve for the pro-
lection of the public and the profess
sions alike. lie emphasized the neceS-
sity of establishing uniform require
ments for diagnoses.
Wide Divergence Shown.
The hours rattle, tense debate on
the subject had clearly shown wide
divergence of opinions as to what
should be the standards for the non.
medical practitioners and as tn
whether they alone or a combination
of these and medical men should con,
stIude the board of examiners for all.
In agreeing to call for cooperative
effort in framing proposed OH,
therefore, DR.. Fowler remarked: Il
can't promise that we will be able 10
reach an agreement as to what should
be the provisions of this bill Dr.
Hickling, however, was more optlmls-
tic and urged that a sincere effort be
made.
The meeting w: marked with frank
discussion, and spokesman for ALI
three groups, without a dissenting
voice, bespoke the pressing need for
the establishment Of standard which
would serve to eliminate the admitted
chaotic conditions Of the present un-
regulated situation. The divergence
OF opinion arose over the method OF
A0IflnISlSTllS
ards of training and scientific knowl-
edge to be placed on the non-medical
healers.
The discussion was opened by DR..
Hubert n. Roberts. representing the
practors, who declared that the
chiropractorS themselves want to see
the establishment of standards for
their profession and a regulation in.
augurated by which they could en-
force adherence of the chiropractic
practitioners to such standards. I'VE
want to keep our profession clean"
he said.
Will Submit Bill Again.
DR.. Roberts stated that the chiro.
practic organization here again would
submit a bill to Congress providing
for regulation of their own profession
and reviewed the unsuccessful effort
last year to get through similar Dill.
Chiropractors at the last session OF
Congress fought the medical practice
bill--a different measure, sponsored py
the medical society-because they felt
It would not have worked with justice
to all, he said.
The opposite side Of the question
then was presented by DIR. J. Lawn
THOMPSON of the District of Columbia
Medical Society, who insisted that so
long as chiropractors and other nom
medical healers attempt to diagnose
all manner Of illnesses they should
submit to the same rigid eXamina'
tons and requirements as the medi-
cal practitioners.
I'VE want a universal board OF eX-
aminers for all physicians" he de-
clared. land there should be univers-
al examination for all practicing the
healing art"
AssaiIs IGNORANCE" of Healers.
Attacking the Ignorance" of some
now practicing the various non-med-
ical methods of healing, DR.. Thomp-
son said that the practice OF cnlro-
practic methods of treatment couldn't
he called a science because its prac-
titioners haven't had the training
necessary. .
DIR. Thompson described the limited
requirements of training now neces'
sarv to obtain a diploma from chlro'
practic school and declared that the
research laboratories of such schools
serve but as screen" for the pro-
fession. He protested that physicians
who fight against the use OF vaccine
to stamp out contagious diseases are
permitted to diagnose and treat sucn
cases and declared that such a SIT
In contrast to the LAX" require
ments now placed on the chiroprac-
tors, DR.. Thompson pointed out that
at the insistence of the medical men
themselves, they now are required 10
have two years collegiate training,
four years training in an accepted
medical school, followed by from one
10 two years internship in hospital.
before being permitted to practice
medicine.
Requirements Being Raised.
For the good Of the profession and
the benefit OF the public, he said, the
requirements and standards are still
further being made higher.
DIR. Thomas A. Grower, a former
president OF the Medical Society of the
District, referred TO the medical prac-
tice bill which was before the last Ses-
SION OF Congress az the fairest,
squarest piece Of legislation that could
be imag ined" and said that it aims to
nut all those who undertake TO dag
nose and treat the sick under the
same requirements.
This was designed to eliminate ig-
norance," he said. Nothing. of
course, can absolutely eliminate igno-'
rance. quackery or charlatanism, but
such a regulation would seek TO elimi-
nate Grass ignorance, leaving to the
physician how he should treat the pa
tent"
DR.. Grower said that the fear on
4he part of some members OF the non
medical physicians that they would
be Disseminated against under such
a mea sure was uniustified and insisted
that discrimination would be virtually
impossible.
Or. Coursen p. Conklin, secretary
Of the Medical Society. said the whole
question resolved itself into whether
q physician has had sufficient scientific
training to make a diagnosis of a