The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-16
-Dietz on Science
u. s. MEDICAL
COSTS REPORT
is DENOUNCED
Fund Director Expresses
Disappointment Over
Investigation.
BY DAVID DIETZ
Scripps Howard Science Editor


The Mibank Memorial Fund
which was the chief financial sup
porter of the investigation of thu
committee on the costs of medical
care, expressed disappointment over
the final report of that committee
in its annual report, made public
today.
1T is a matter of extreme regret,
John A. King bury, secretary of the
fund, writes in the report, that the
committee failed to propose COM
prehensive program which would
solve the basic problem which it un-
covered
Mr.. Kingsbury makes it plain that
the fund directors feel that the
money spent in the investigation
was wisely invested because of the
great body of facts brought to light
and made public by it. But he
makes it plain that the fund would
have welcomed a definite program
of action from the committee.
Cites Cause of Failure
This failure" he continues, "can
not be ascribed wholly to a lack of
vision or of courage on the part of
all its members; in all fairness, it
should be said that much of the
fault lay with obstructionists' tao
tics on the part of certain groups OF
physicians who generally control
medical organizations and often are
able to use the great prestige OF
these organizations to prevent,
rather than to promote, the deliv-
cry of adequate medical services to
all of the people"
Mr.. Kingsbury is outspoken in
his opinion of those whom he thinks
blocked the work of the commit
tee.
Such an attitude is difficult to
understand at the moment, since it
is obvious that no solution will meet
the underlying problems of pro-
viding medical care to all of the
people which does not, at the same
time, provide better facilities for
scientific medicine as we'll as higher
compensation for the rank and file
of physicians; which does not safe
guard the confidential relationship
between patient and doctor, and
which does not guarantee the free
dom of choice of physician to the
patient and full scope, for the physi-
clan, for private practice among
that portion OF the population which
can afford to pay for it.
But looking at the history OF
medicine and public health in the
perspective, such an attitude is not
so strange as it appears; it has
characterized the practice of medi-
cine for centuries. AS in other in
stances, when the public good be-
comes predominant, this phase OF
medicine will pass and a compre-
henSive plan will emerge and will be
adopted"
Attacks Fund Cut
The need for a national health
plan is emphasized in the Milbank
report. The report sees the need for
plan which would embrace pub
lie health and preventive activities,
private medical and voluntary So
cial services, and properly directed
measures for strengthening economic
security for the entire population"
The need for national health
plan is intensified, in Mr.. Kings
bury's opinion, by the fact that
health authorities in many sections
OF the country are facing a critical
situation brought on by the depres-
sion.
Since 1881" he says, "appropria-
tions for these purposes have been
cut in forty Of the forty-eight states
OF the Union All average of 10 per
cent. In some states the reduction
IN appropriation for public health
has amounted to so per cent. This
means that many counties. cities
and even whole states have been
Obliged to abandon vital health
services.
Health Need Is Vital
This is notably true in the states
OF Alabama, New Mexico, the Dako-
tas and of Indiana, where the state
department of health has been vir-
tually abandoned"
And at the same time, he points
out, the demand for medical services
has grown larger than ever. Ply
sicians are overburdened with char
1ty practice. Clinics are crowded.
Mr.. Kingsbury calls attention tc
the warning issued a year ago By
DR.. William H. WEIGH, the dean Of
American medicine. DR.. WEIGH said
lob great economy as far as
health is concerned, because of the
current depression, is particularly
dangerous to the welfare of growing
children. Undernourishment of chill
dren is not likely to show itself i'm
mediately, but it is bound to show
its effects later, when it is probably
too late to remedy The grounc
lost by undernourishment in child
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