Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-03

Sympathetic interest Is shown by the
public in q proposal, made at the De-
troit convention of the American Medi-
cal Association, that centers for the
treatment of cases be established under
control Of the profession. This sugges-
ton from the retiring president of the
association, DR.. Malcolm L. Harris Of
Chicago, Is offered as means Of pre-
venting Government control Of medi-
cine, declared to be tendency in this
country and in Great Britain. A rela-
ted subject was brought up by DR.
william q. Morgan of Washington, in
coming president, who urged that medi-
cal men protect themselves against eX-
ploitation through claims upon their
skill by hospitals giving free service.
1.-THE problem DR.. Harris discussed, u
says the Lincoln State Journal, sis be-
ing worked on by various organizations
outside the profession. Some medical
centerS are being worked on or planned
with an endowment sufficient to bear
the burden the middle-claSs worker
cannot bear. Medical men, however,
have not, as a group, given the problem
much attention. DR.. Harris has pointed
the need Of immediate study, since the
professions independence is threatened,
and suggests remedy that may serve,
If tried, to stem the tide"
Value Is found by the Newark Eve
ming News in the contention by DR..
Morgan that "if public philanthropy or
taxation supports these hospitals the
doctors ministrationS, as part of the
service, should be paid for out of the
viewpoint" continues the News, "and
this may have much to do with the
problem which disturbs Dr. Harris.
The latter's suggestion may have
value, particularly as to the more cost
~ surgical and other specialties of mod
ern medicine. His fears, except to the
extent that they are realized in the
free hospital clinic, probably are not
grounded in any immediate prospect.
DR.. Morgan'S implication that the ply
stefan is worthy of his hire, even If the
patient Is a pauper, Is more promising
of relief"
Observing that the association at its
convention named bureau of econom-
les to study the major problem of pub
lie health, the Louisville Courier Jour-
nal advises that ION the newly estab-
lished bureau falls the responsibility of
preserving the freedom Of the medical
profession" and offers the judgment as
to the future: 1.-THE doctors admit that
their efforts are not entirely altruistic.
They are concerned more with the well
fare Of the medical profession than with
that of the patients from the middle
classes. They are endeavoring to solve
the high cost of sickness problem before
legislators put their hands to 1t, before
medicine and surgery are controlled by
the State. England is on the verge of
Socialism in this respect and individ-
ualism and individual initiative in med
icine are threatened"
The belief that "the demand for bet
ter care of those unable to pay is exert
ing the pressure for a revision of medical
economics" is voiced by the st. Paul
Dispatch, with the contention that
medicine, of course, must be demo-
cratic to the extent of making the best
of practice available to ALL" and recog-
milton of the fact that individual
physicians have been left to their own
devices in providing for those who can
not pay the accepted SCALE" The South
Bend Tribune points out that members
of the medical associations should face
suuarely the fact that the threat to
them is traceable, In large part, to their
own failure to lay the truth before the
public; that "the profession, under its
ethical code, has not discussed fees
publicly or acquainted the public with
the extent and nature Of the various
medical services"
Government control Of medicine and
enlistment Of physicians in the Govern