The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-16
THE QUACKERY OF ETHICAL
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HE QUAChEhI UT E1h1CAL
 DOCTORS
 Battling is this query from New York correspondent: How can I know a competent physician from a quack?
 A. Name"
 I have made dozen false starts on a terse reply, and every time l become involved in devious eXplana- tions which require further explain ationS.
 Without offering a prize or even implying that I would pay for it, I do say a terse reply to A. Names question would be worth ten bucks to me. Before you submit your an- swer please be sure you understand that I am not offering a prize, con- ducting a contest or promising to acknowledge any contributions or comments readers may make. I merely place a nominal valuation upon what would seem to me suit able answer to the question, How can I tell an honest docotr from a quack?"
 Before you compose an answer you had better consult Webster for the meaning of quack, ethical and terse. It would be a help, too, to read of Code of Medical Ethics if you can get copy. You will find it in the American Medical Directory in your public library.
 Sec. 5, Chap. III of the code Cor as the politicians controlling the A. M. A. hay recently renamed it, the principles of medical ethics) says:
 Tt is unprofessoinal to receive remuneration from patents for sur gical instruments or medicines; to accept rebates on prescriptions or surgical appliances or prequisites from attendants who aid in the care of patients"
 Section of Chap. W of the code says:
 Physicians should warn the pub lie against the devices practiced and the false precautions made by char latans whcih may cause injury to health or loss of lives"
 In pursuance of this principle and out of sympathy (believe it or not) with many poorer peopl ewho have to pay an outrageous price for ni- sulin because of the patent mon- opoly on insulin which the A. M. A. so stoutly defends and tries to jus tify,I shot off my mouth about it in the wretched public prints recently, and for my pains drew vitriolic editorial attack by the Great Pooh Bah of the A. M. A. in his-and mean his-organ, the Journal of the A. M. A.
 Nevertheless, the patenting of in- sulin, and the strange distortion of the fundamental principles of med- ical ethics, is what call quackery in the grand manner and com- pared with the petty gratifying of the practitioner who accepts rebates on prescriptions and the like it is in the big money. Not that the rank and file of the profession, the fel- lows or members of the A. M. A. get anything out of it personally. But what does mere member or fellow, like myself, know about the disposal of the big money collected annually by the A. M. A.? What does any, body know about it except the gang who run the organization?
 I repeat, this is not prize con- test. I shall neither acknowledge nor return any manuscripts sent in response to the question. But if receive an answer, in less than 300 words, that seems to me good enough to print, I'll pay for it. If two answers are good enough to print, I'll pay for them. If three, II pay for them, 25 for the best, $15 for the second, $10 for the third TO IMPROVE YOUR VOCABU- LARY to the Waterbury Democrat Home Service, 635 Sixth Ave-, New York, N. Y. Be sure to write plain