The Washington times., 1938-08-02
PEACE PROPOSAL.
NEAR IN WAR ON
MEDICAL GROUP
New Health Service to
Public Planned


Before Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Thurman Arnold actually
brings the American Medical AS.
sociation and the District Medi.
cal Society before the grand jury
for investigation, it was learned
authoritatively today that mem.
bers of both groups will be given
an opportunity to participate in
public medical service similar in
principle to the Group Health AS
eociation, Inc.
1t was understood the White
House has given sanction to this
"olive branch" gesture.
Officials refused to divulge de-
tails of the method by which it is
hoped the breach between the
public and private aspects of the
practice method will be healed.
They confined their comments to
the simple observation that the
peace proposal got under way yes
terday and would continue until
It was decided efforts along this
line were hopeless
Arnold limited yesterday Of de-
velopments along this line when
he said:
"In the event that voluntary
cooperation in constructive pro-
poSals going beyond the elimina-
tion Of illegal practices, the JUS
tice Department will adhere to
its previously announced policy
of submitting such proposals to
the court as a basis for a con-
sent decree
TIMES CHANGE
Although loath to comment for
publication, District health author
tiles let it be known their sympa-
thieS inclined toward the Justice
Departments attitude and the
philosophy of Group Health and
similar medical groups.
One official noted times have
changed" and the place the physi-
clan occupied in modern society
could be compared "in very few
instances" with that of the doc
tor of a generation ago.
Spokesman for the District
Medical Society confirmed reports
something was in the air" in re-
gard to undertaking a medical
service enterprise from the public.
They denied it was their inten-
ton to fight the proposed investi-
cation or use obStructionist tactics
in connection with CHA, adding
they would have something of
OHr own to offer later on"
AS to details Of the something"
they would offer, District medical
men were as mum as the District
health officials.
ANA EDITORIAL
Despite these developments on
the local medical front, little
change in the attitude of the
American Medical Association was
noted. From its Chicago head
quarters, the Association an
nounced yesterday it will advise
editorially in the Association Jour-
nal that its members "need have
no fear" as to the legality of
their services until the courts have
made a decision.
Due for publication later this
week, the journal will say:
I'm the statement to the
press, the Assistant Attorney
General apparently offers to
the American Medical Associa-
tion and to others concerned an
opportunity to avoid trial by
agreeing to consent DEGREES
which will assure the coopera-
tion of the medical association
m the operation of cooperative
clinics.
J ARNOLD THEORIES HIT
1T becomes apparent that the
Department of Justice feels that
organized medicine should have
nothing to say about methods of
payment for medical services: it
is even proposed that hospitals
shall have nothing to say as to
who may or may not practice
within their walls. The state.
ment by the Assistant Attorney
General is in accord with the
point of view which he has held
for some time in relationship to
our Government
In many quarters here, the lat
ter reference to Arnold's point of
view" was believed aimed at Arm
old's convictions on politics and
economics as expressed in two
books he published prior to his ap-
pointment to the Department of
Justice as chief of the antitrust
division. The books were, "The
Symbols of Government" and
THE Folklore of Capitalism"