Evening star., 1938-07-29
U.S.ASKED T0ST0P
BOYCOTT OF CHA,
BY MEDICAL UNIT
Cooperative League Files
Plea With Pine Urging
Proper Action
CAMPAIGN CONTINUED
FOR OWN HOSPITAL
Decision Due Soon on Probe Of
Monopoly Charges by Justice
Department.

The Washington League for Co.
operative Medical Service today called
on United States Attorney David A.
Pine to institute court proceedings
against the District Medical Society
to prevent it from alleged use Of the
boycott" and other efforts ito hamper
operations of Group Health Associa-
tion, Inc
The league presented its request to
the district attorney in a formal letter
signed by A. c. Edwards, secretary.
treasurer.
The league suggested proceedings in
quo warranto against both the officers
and Executive Committee of the medi.
cal society on the ground that they
are exercising corporate privileges not
granted them by the laws in force in
the District" Violation of the society's
charter was charged by the league
If you are not disposed to bring
such proceeding on your own mo-
tlon,' the league wrote, we wish to
know whether you will bring it on re-
lation of this league"
Such proceedings, it was explained
by Mr.. Edwards, would involve an
investigation of the medical society's
legal right to bar physicians from the
operating rooms of District hospitals,
as 1t has done in the case of Group
Health surgeon, its right to prohibit it's
members from consulting with G. H.
A. physicians, as it has done; as well
as its right to take disciplinary meas
ures against one of its members, be-
cause of his affiliation with the CO.
operative medical organization, as it
did in the case of DR.. Mario Scandif.
fio."
Monopoly Complaints.
Meantime, at the Department Of
Justice, an investigation which has
been under way for some weeks into
monopoly complaints against the
American Medical Association, Dis
trict Medical Society and others, is
/ A>AAD"A W NC dpplOdSlLllk
Some of the complaints were the OUT
growth of the organized medical pro-
fession's opposition to Group Health.
Assistant Attorney General Thurman
Arnold. in charge of the Antitrust
Division, said he would make formal
statement when and if a definite
course of action is determined"
To rHor tcIo4y
G. H. A. had decided to push forward
plans for new hospital of its own 90
1t could assure hospital services to its
$500 members and their families,
totaling 5000 patients
A recent decision by Justice Jennings
Bailey in District Court upholding le-
gality of G. H. A., has fired with
greater enthusiasm" the members of
the cooperative, according to William
G. kirkpatrick, G. H. A. president, and
campaign for disqualification funds
was actively launched today.
Pending in IL hospitals today were
requests that DR.. Raymond E. Selders.
G. H. A. surgeon and medical director,
be admitted to the courtesy privileges
OF these hospitals, from which he now
is barred
Membership of League.
In its letter to the United States
Attorney today, the League for Co.
operative Medical Service explained
1t is composed of some 60 persons,
residents of the District, most Of whom
are officers of the Government" A
number represent organizations Of
Government and other employees. The
league and its predecessor of q slightly
different name have been studying the
question Of cooperative medical serv-
ice for many years. Its officers are H.
T. Cory, chairman: F. O. Billings, ex-
ecutive secretary; Mr.. Edwards, secre-
counsel
Violation of the Medical Society
charter of 1924 is charged by the
league as a basis for its request for
legal action.
Action by the league requesting a
court move against the Medical So
ciety follows previous action Of the
Medical Society in sending its legal
counsel to law enforcement officers
here to seek action against Group
Health Association, which resulted in
the recent court decision upholding
legality of G. H. A.
Despite the fact Congress chartered
the Medical Society "for the purpose
Of promoting and disseminating med
| ical and surgical knowledge. and for
no other purpose" the league told Mr..
| Pine, the society "has long dominated
and intimidated the physicians Of the
District"
Boycott" Is Charged.
After pointing out that the Medical
Society, in accordance with its in
depreciation Of professional ethics, re-
fuses to permit its members to have
professional relations with G. H. A..
doctors, and excludes the latter from
operating rooms Of District hospitals,
the league said:
by these two methods Of enforce
ment of its interpretations Of the
canon (of medical ethics) the society
effectively boycotts non-conformists.
Non -conformists include those physi-
clans who make agreements with such
co-operatives as G. H. A. to attend
their members.
THE interdict laid by the society
upon its members forbidding them to
have professional relations with non-
conforming physicians is substantially
q sentence Of scientific and profess
sional DEATH"