Evening star., 1938-03-16
LEGAL FIGHT SEEN
If MEDICAL GROUP
GUSTS c. H. A. MAN
Health Association Head
Threatens to Sue on
Conspiracy Charge.
SCANDIFFI0 CASE ACTION
BY SOCIETY DUE TONIGHT
Minimum Salary of Doctors for
U. S. Employees Shown
to Be $4,000.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Group Health Association, Inc,
formed originally BY the Home
OWnerS' Loan Corp. to furnish
medical care to its employees, ron
includes UorkerS from 26 Gouern-
ment agencies, uith q total OF about
5000 persons to be treated at home
and at the G. H. A. clinic. 1881
street. G. II. A. has been serere1v
attacked, stoutly defended, in long
controversy.
Anticipating that DR.. Mario Scan
difio, Group Health Association, Inc.
physician. will be expelled from the
District of Columbia Medical Society
tonight, G. H. A. officials today de-
cided to fight the Medical Society In
the courts, if necessary. to uphold its
right to provide medical care to Gov
ernment employees, even to hospitali-
cation.
William c. Kirkpatrick, president of
G. H. "A, disclosed that the Medical
Society is meeting tonight to take &C
tlon on the charge Of its Executive
Committee that Dr. Scandiffio has
violated the Medical Society constitu-
ton. Mr.. Kirkpatrick predicted the
society would eXpel DR.. Scandiffio. as
recommended by the executive group.
Interpreting this as the latest overt
act in series of what he charged
was "ostracism" of G. H. A. doctors
and prejudice against patients of G.
H. A. in the city's hospitals, Mr.. Kirk
patrick said G. H. A. would cease its
previous policy of quiet negotiations
and would fight"
Threatens to Sue.
I'VE are now prepared to bring suit
against the Medical Society," he de-
clared. for conspiracy to prevent the
free choice of physicians in entering
service OF G. H. A.. and to prevent the
free choice of our people to employ
those on our staff to give medical and
surgical care"
Mr.. kirkpatrick intimated the basis
of the expected suits was treatment
allegedly accorded both doctors and
patients of G. H. A.. some of these in
hospitals of the city.
The statement that the case against
DR.. Scandiffio is to be taken up BY the
Medical Society tonight was contained
in letter made public by Mr.. Kirk
patrick. 1t was signed by DR.. Thomas
E. Neill. president. and DR.. c. B.
Conklln, secretary of the Medical So
ciety
This letter, addressed to members of
the society. said the report, finding
and recommendation of the Executive
Committee upon the charges made
against DR.. Scandiffiio member of the
society, for violating certain provisions
of the constitution" had been sub
mitted to the society March 2.
Five Sessions Held.
This eliminates a long series of
hearings, at which Mr.. Kirkpatrick
said he was present. The specific
charge against Dr. Scandiffio is that
he violated the constitution by omit
ting to submit in advance the terms
of his employment with Group Health
Association. Five sessions were held.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick said. four for hear
ings and one for arguments. in which
both the Medical Society and the
G. H. A. doctor were represented by
counsel.
The hearing was directed. not so
much against DR.. Scandiffio. the
G. H. A. head charged, as against
G. H. A. itself.
His technica! violation Of the So
ciety constitution was only a front
for the attack against G.. H A." Mr..
kirkpatrick added. He charged that
the Medical Society has put pressure"
on the hospitals against G. H. A. and
had "ostracized" G. II. A. doctors.
Ulterior Aim Charged.
BY the expected ousting of DR.. Scar-
difflo Mr.. Kirkpatrick declared, the
society thinks that by "crucifying a
G. H. A. man. tiley will destroy the
possibility of G. H. A. getting any more
doctors to carry on its practice"
If the Medical Society expels DR..
Scandiffio from membership, Mr.. Kirk
patrick said, the physician would be
continued on the staff of G. H. A., but
under the present system would be
(see HEALTH, Page A-5)
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