Evening star., 1938-08-01
American Association Is
Ready for Fight on
Monopoly Issue.
LOCAL SOCIETY SILENT
ON JUSTICE THREATS
Turns Matter of G. H. A. Charges
by Federal Officials Over to
Lawyers for Study.
Tert OF Arnold Statement on
Page A..

AiC AiiiCII MSulCdI ASSOCIATION
today virtually challenged the Depart
ment Of Justice to take it into court
for showdown as to whether or
ganized medicine has violated the
antitrust laws in its fight against
Group Health Association here.
In statement from Chicago. the
A. M. A. made public an editorial to
appear in its official journal this week.
declaring fatty. according to the
Associated Press:
Until the courts have spoken. phv-
sicians need have no fear as to the
legality of the service which thev
render or as to the place which the
American Medical Association oc-
cupies in our national economy"
Instead of accepting any part of the
suggestion OF consent decree"
! thrown out by the Department OF
Justice in its official statement threat
ening grand jury investigation, the
editorial. apparently written by DR..
Morris Fishbein. editor of the journal.
took sharply critical attitude toward
| the Governments position.
Apparently it remains to be deter
mined declared the editorial.
| whether or not the Federal admins
| tration can use the laws and the
| courts to mold the people of the
! United States to its belief in every
phase of life and living
Turn Matter Over to Lawyers.
Meantime, the Medical Society OF
the District of Columbia, also charged
| by the Department of Justice with
alleged monopoly practices against @.
H. A., turned the matter over to its
attorneys, but had taken no definite
position early this afternoon.
The A. M. A. editorial is titled. The
Department of Justice Intervenes in
Medical Care"
This is the third statement issued
to the press by the Assistant Attor-
ney General as to the Intentions Of
! the Department of Justice in this
regard" the A. M. A. statement said
in part.
In the statement issued to the
press, the Assistant Attorney General
apparently offers to the American
Medical Association and to the others
concerned an opportunity to avoid trial
by agreeing TO consent DEGREES which
will assure the cooperation of the
Medical Association in the operation
Of cooperative clinics
1T becomes apparent that the De-
partment of Justice feels that Or
ganized medicine should have noth-
ing to say about methods of pay
ment for medical services: it is even
proposed that hospitals shall have
nothing to say as to who may or
may not practice within their walls.
The statement by the Assistant Attor-
ney General is in accord with the
point of view which he has held for
some time in relationship to our Gov
ernment.
Doctors Need Have No Fear"
Apparently it remains to be de-
termined whether or not the Federal
administration can use the laws and
the courts to mould the people of the
| United States to its belief in every
phase of life and living, or whether
or not fundamental principles of COM
mon justice which have prevailed in
this country in the past are to be
relegated into the limbo of forgotten
things
Until the courts have spoken
physicians need have no fear as to
the legality of the service which they
render or as to the place which the
American Medical Association occu-
pies iffTour national economy
DR.. Charming Frothingham, Presi-
dent of the Massachusetts, Medical
Society, meanwhile, said today in
Boston that organized medicine is
making "an awful mistake" by oppos-
ing hospital and medical insurance
plans, according to the Associated
Press
Organized medicine is making an
awful mistake by not following the
trend of public opinion in medical
and hospital insurance plans" he
said. The trouble is, doctors are
Independent fellows and think their
rights are being taken away. They
can't see that they'll be benefited.
I'm glad the whole thing is COM
ing out into the open"
Probe Plans Pushed.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department
pushed forward today with plans for
grand jury investigation to deter
mine whether criminal action should
be taken against the A. NJ A. and
District Medical Society.
| Several attaches of the department
were engaged on the matter today,
it was learned, but no time had been
fixed for presentation of the case to
the grand jury.
1t is hoped, the department said
in statement issued yesterday,
that the grand jury proceeding will
lead to the cessation of the alleged
illegal practices, with the result that
there may be free and fair COMPETE
ton between the new forms of organ
ization and the older types of medical
practice"
In announcing its decision to take
this action. the department empha-
sized that it docs not take the view
that the offenses committed are crimes
which reflect upon the character or
high standing of the persons who may
be involved"
The statement was signed by As
sistant Attorney General Arnold,
in charge of antitrust activities,
who has pursued an intensive pre-
liminary investigation" Of the case
for months. and was approved by At.