The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-07-09
Medical Faculty Goes On
Record
vigorously Opposes Plan To Place
Profession Under Govern
ment DictatiOn

ment Dictation
AT a special meeting of the Coun-
ell of the Medical and Chirurgical
Faculty Of the State Of Maryland
held on June II, 1887, the attention
of the Council was called to speech
made at the Atlantic City meeting
of the American Medical Association
by Senator j. Hamilton Lewis on
June 10, 1887.
You, no doubt, saw newspaper ac-
counts of this speech under date OF
June II, 1887. There was also an
account in the magazine, Time
June 81, 1887, page 26-in which
the subject was reviewed at some
length,
At the special meeting of the
Council of the Medical Chirurgical
Faculty of the State Of Maryland,
above referred to, the following reso-
luton was unanimously adopted:
"At the Atlantic City meeting of
the American Medical Association,
June, 1887, Senator j. Hamilton
Lewis, of Illinois, appeared and de-
| livered an address concerning the
future relations between the State,
the physician and the patient. He
stated that as Chairman of a Senate
subcommittee he came to the Amer
lean Medical Association for guild
ance and advice in certain aspects OF
his duties. At the conclusion of his
talk the House of Delegates referred
the matter to the Board of Trustees
for consideration and action.
THE Council of the Medical and
Chirurgical Faculty of the State of
Maryland, being informed of the ma
ture of Lewiss views and the course
that he predicts the future of medi-
cine will take, herewith expresses it's
complete antagonism to any such de-
lvelopment. Specifically we repudiate
the view that the State does, or in
|
right to, regard the individual as a
mere instrument for the execution
of its purposes, in peace or war, and
to that end may enforce the services
of the medical profession to main
tain the health of the citizen, without
respect to the desires Of either pa
tient or physician. Not only is
this view of governmental relations
and powers a grave threat to the
freedom, the quality, and the scien-
tific development of the medical pro-
fession; even more important is the
fact that it completely subverts the
traditional rights of American citi-
zens and is reasonable betrayal of
principles of our democracy. We
believe that the Government has no
direct concern with the health of the
individual. Under its police powers,
which assure the individual protec-
ton from the acts of others, 1t is
concerned to prevent the spread Of
Icontagion and to restrain Industrial
conditions that are menace TO
health and safety. The individual
lotherwise is free to take such care
of his own health as seems best to
him. Also, in general the relation
between physician and patient is
personal one beyond the concern OF
the government. In our view, the
State is the servant of the people.
not its master.
Holding these opinions, not mere
ly as abstract theories but as sac
red inheritance from our fathers and
sacred trust to be passed on to our
children we respectfully request the
Board of Trustees of the American
Medical Association as follows:
/. That they publicly and emphat-
ically repudiate the relationship of
the government to the physicion and
patient envisaged in Senator Lewis's
address.
2. That they publicly and emphat-
ically call to the attention OF the
people of the United States the dan
ger that threatens their freedom as
citizens and individuals.
3. That they refuse, in the name
of organized medicine, to have any
share or responsibility in the intro
duction of such a scheme, by giving
advice, the suggestion of personnel,
or even by tacit acquiescence,
A. That, on the contrary, they en-
list the active and vigorous oppos1-
ton of the entire medical profession
against the scheme, to the extent, II
possible, of pledging them to refuse
nlo