Evening star., 1938-08-09
MEDICAL SOCIETY
CUSTER APPEALED
BY c. H. A. DOCTOR
Dr.. Scandiffio Charges D. C.
Organization Exceeded
Powers Under Law.
ASKS U. S. ASSOCIATION
FOR reinstatement
Attempt to Control Practice
and Dictate Professional
Relationships Alleged

DR.. Mario Scandiffio today appealed
to the Judicial Council of the American
Medical Association to order his re-
instatement in the District Medical
Society, which expelled him in March
because ne agreed to work for the
Group Health Association, Inc.
In the course of five-page letter,
drawn up with the help of DR.. Scam
difios counsel, E. K. Newman of the
New Mexico Bar Association, the doc
tor. stated.
The Medical Society of the Dis
trict of Columbia exceeded its cor
porate powers and acted in violation
of law and good morals in attempting
to discipline. by expulsion from men,
bership. the appellant for entering
in.o professional relationship with
the membership of Group Health As
sociation. Inc, which is legal Or
ganizaticn. as recently declared by
the District Court of the United States
for the district of Columbia
Court Ruling Held an Aid.
AL lCply W a QuCoIlOIl, III oSdllulIlO
said that while he felt the decision
Of Justice Jennings Bailey in District
Court July 81 that the Group Health
Assertion was not, an insurance
plan nor a corporation. helped his
cause, he had been working on the
appeal for many weeks before the
decision was rendered.
The doctors charge against the
District Medical Society, which is
affiliated with the American Medical
Association, continued:
Said society acted in violation of
law, morals. good conscience and pub
lie policy in expelling appellant from
its membership for his professional
relationship with an organization in
all respects legal and which demands
of the physician that his practice be
ethical in accordance with the high
est concepts of the profession"
DR.. Scandiffio contended that the
society exceeded its powers in the
law creating it" in that it attempted
Ito control the practice" of the doctor;
attempted Ito dictate the organiza-
tions which the doctor might enter
into professional relationship" and
attempted to require the doctor to
submit his contract with Group Health
for the approval Of the society.
Cites Law for Society.
To support his contention that the
Medical Society has established rules
Of conduct for its membership far
beyond its power to establish and en-
force such rules" Dr. Scandiffio quoted
from the Act Of Congress of 1924
setting up the society under its present
form. The organization. the law
states. is set up ''for the purpose Of
promoting and disseminating medical
and surgical knowledge and for no
other purpose. and not for the purpose
Of establishing medical school or
schools"
Earlier in the appeal. the doctor
pointed out that the society dismissed
him on the grounds he violated section
one of the society,s regulations. stat
ing that it is 'unprofessional" to rem
der service in such a way that lessons
reasonable competition; section two,
requiring that every member entering
a contract with an organization must
submit the contract to the society,
and section five, requiring that no
member may engage with an organiza-
ton unapproved by the society.
The letter to the A. NJ A. adds:
THE record discloses that,
while it is known to the society that
many OF its members are engaged
in the contract practice. no record
has been made or is in existence that
any such contracts have been SUBJ
mitted to the society for approval.
1T is submitted that the Medical So
ciety of the District of Columbia ex-
PEELED appellant from its membership
not because he violated any Of the
ethics of his profession, but simply
because he associated himself, pro-
fessionally, with a group which, while
operating legally and ethically. is not
approved by the said society"