Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-03
Emergency
Hospital
|sDefended
B. B. Sundidge Tells
Position in Group
Controversy

B. B. Sandidge, superintendent OF
Emergency Hospital, today defended
the position of Emergency Hospital
in the current controversy over
group medical practice.
After hearing the special grand
jury investigating Department of
Justice charges that organized medi-
cine had violated the Sherman Anti
Trust Act in its tactics against
Group Health Association, Inc,
Supt. Sandidge made his defense of
the manner in which Emergency
Hospital is conducted.
He was understood to have sub
mitted certain records which had
been subpoenaed by the Government
in connection with its probe. Upon
emerging from the grand jury room
Mr. Sandidge emphasized that he
could not discuss his appearance
before the grand jury nor the nature
Of his testimony.
Issues Statement.
In a statement, however, issued
after he had left the jurors, the
hospital superintendent declared
that the present system of operating
the hospital redounded to the good
OF the patient
Group Health Association has
charged that its surgeon, DR.. Ray
mond E. Soldiers, is barred from
operating in all Washington hos
pitfalls. Group Health charges this
Is discrimination, claiming that DR..
Soldiers is qualified to operate
Mr.. Sandidge, in his statement,
said, 1T has been our aim and de-
sire to staff the hospital with people
who measure up to the highest
standards of their chosen profess
sion, and we have been guided by
the judgment and advice of those
we feel best qualified to pass on
these qualifications.
This rebounds to the good of the
patient and after all the hospital
owes this responsibility to the
patient.
II do not mean this as reflection
on any one not connected with our
hospital, but any successful or
gani2ation has to nave high
standard of efficiency and definite
rules to meet this standard are
necessary.
I'VE have endeavored," he con-
tinued, ito operate Emergency Hos
pital according to the highest
standards of present day medicine
and enjoy class A rating in all
national organizations who evaluate
and rate hospitals"
Georgetown Records Presented.
The grand jury also had before it
today for study records of George
town University Hospital, which had
been presented yesterday by Father
sDavid v. McCauley, dean Of the
Medical School of Georgetown Uni
Sersity.
These two hospitals, it is known.
will be followed by others, which
have received summonses to present
their records.
Group Health Association, because
of the exclusion of its surgeons from
local hospitals, has moved to es-
tablish its own hospital elsewhere.
Records of the hospitals in the
city have been examined by special
agents of the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation, it was learned some time
ago, laying a basis for the demands
for certain records.
Another witness before the spe-
cial grand jury today was Miss
Sarah Abbott, a member of Group
Health Association.
The grand jury probe is now in
the midst of its third week, with
prospects that the inquiry may con-
tinue for about two weeks longer, at
least. This is indicated by the fact
that Casualty Hospital has been
called upon to present its records,
Monday, November IA.
Three other Group Health Asso-
citation members appeared before
the grand jury today. They were
Mrs. Harriet A. Austin and Mr.
and Mrs. H. P. Avery.
DR.. Soldiers, who is medical direc-
tor of G. H. A., planned to return
for his second appearance before
the grand jury this afternoon.