Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-14
A. A. A. HEAD RAPS
ACCIDENT CHASERS
Thomas P. Henry Pleads for
Maximum of Efficiency in
Treatment of Injured.

BOSTON, Mass, October ia
ringing demand for maximum of eff
cheney in the treatment of motor acct
dent victims, an urgent plea for Ma
tion-wide cooperation in the work of
bringing hospital organization to a
higher level and an excoriating attack
on ambulance chasers were the high
lights of an address by Thomas P.
Henry, president of the American Au-
tomobile Association, before the Ameri-
can College Of Surgeons, in annual
convention here yesterday.
If we cannot take the hazard out
Of motoring, let us at least take the
hazard out of the treatment of the in
jured," Mr.. Henry declared
At the outset of his address the A.
A. A. president pledged the resources of
organized motordom in America to con-
tinued activity in behalf of safety
afterward," and paid a warm tribute to
the American College of Surgeons for
its efforts to promote maximum surgi-
cal skill and maximum efficiency in
hospital organization.
Praises Standards Set.
LII my OplIllOIl, lie SdlU, The Work
OF the College of Surgeons in establish
ing its minimum standards for hos
pitfalls on the accredited list of the COL
lege is, the most progressive step hith-
erto taken to assure efficient treatment
for injured motorists.
"Of the 100000 automobile injuries
reported last year scores of thousands
involved motorists who were far from
home, often in remote rural districts,
where emergency treatment was slow
and where hospital conditions were far
from perfect. The only way to cope
with this situation is to raise the stand
ards OF all hospitals as quickly as pos
Sible."
Mr. Henry outlined the program of
the A. A. A. for better care of the
injured as follows:
/. Distribution of the accredited
list'' of hospitals approved by the Col
lege of Surgeons to the 1,065 motor
clubs affiliated with the A. A. A. in the
United States and Canada, the clubs
to use this information for advising
their members and the motoring public
in general
2. The placement of hospital loca-
lions on A. A. A. maps of metropolitan
areas and the insertion of information
regarding up-to-date hospitals in A. A.
A. tour books.
Preference for Surgeons.
3. Special A. A. A. emergency road
service for physicians and surgeons
which gives them a preferential status
over all other motorists in trouble.
4. Sponsoring of a movement to re-
move speed limits in the case Of bona
fide physicians and surgeons on emer-
gency calls.
5. determination of the ambulance
chasing evil, whereby mercenary men,
bers of the medical and legal profess
sions turn human suffering into per-
sonal gain.
There exists" said Mr.. Henry In
conclusion, "a deplorable degree OF
commercialism and worse among some
members of the medical and legal pro-
LESSONS who prey upon the injured.
THE determination of this disrepu-
table tribe is duty to which all hon
orable agencies must direct their energy
and attention. I know that the prac-
tice is one which the College of Sur
geons deplores.
1T is fact, however, that many So
called doctors are in league with shyS-
ter lawyers, mercenary hospital at
PENDANTS and police informers. 1t is
bad enough that there should be in
efficiency in the treatment of the in
jured, but what shall we say of a
situation which permits commercialism
and corruption to invade this sacred
field7"