The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-12-20

societies provide desirable ser.
vices for and contacts to mem
bers, and because many doctors
and many hospitals and others
serving the medical profession
deal only with such doctors as
are members Of d e PENDANT
American Medical Association.
Standing Injured
Exclusion or expulsion from
membership in a medical society
affiliated with defendant Amer
lean Medical Association, and
hence from membership in de-
PENDANT American Medical Asso-
citation itself, depriveS doctors,
including doctors engaged in
group practice on a riSk-Sharing
prepayment basis, Of these ad-
var1tageS and also injuries their
professional standing.
Consultations between doc
tors are frequently advantag-
eous, both to the patient and
to the doctors. Defendant
American Medical Association
recommends that doctors seek
consultations with other doctors
in cases of serious illness. Con-
situations with specialists out
side Of the group is frequently
desirable for doctors engaged in
group practice on a risk Shar-
ing prepayment basis.
Doctors, including doctors en-
gagged in group practice on a
riSk-sharing prepayment basis,
are seriously handicapped If
they are prevented from obtain
ing consultations.
Hospital Essential
THE privilege of attending
and treating their patients in a
well-equipped hospital Is essen
tial for all practicing SURGEONS,
Such privilege is desirable Tor
all practicing doctors. Exclu-
sion from hospitals Of surgeons
and physicians, including those
engaged in group practice on
a risk-sharing prepayment basis,
seriously restraints them in the
pursuit Of their callings.
TT is desirable and frequently
essential for the successful con-
duct Of the business of organ
izationS engaged in arranging
for the provision of medical care
by salaried doctors engaged IN
group medical practice on a risk
sharing prepayment basis, and
thus for the members Of or sub
scribers to such organizations,
that the doctors composing the
medical stats thereof. equally
with other doctors, be afforded
the opportunity Of obtaining,
and be not prevented from OBJ
tanning, memberships in medical
societies, consultations with
other doctors, and the use OF
hospital facilities.
Society Members
"A large percentage Of the
doctors practicing in the Dis
trict Of Columbia Tin excess OF
5000 are members Of defendant
the Medical Society Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and thus Of
defendant American Medical
Association. There are approx.
mately las, COO doctors engaged
in practice in the United States.
APPROXIMATELY 10000 doctors
are members of defendant
American Medical Association.
Defendant American Medical
Association has a gross income
of several million dollars a year,
and its investments in capital
assets have been and are sub
stantial; it employs about 500
persons in the conduct OF its
business.
Defendant American Medical
Association is engaged IN the
business Of publishing weekly
magazine known as The Journal
Of the American Medical Asso-
citation, which has a weekly cir.
culation Of approximately 95,-
600; it is the only medical Jour-
nal with an extensive circula-
ton among the members Of the
medical profession.
THE said journal contains q
section entitled Organization
Section" devoted to organiza-
tional, business, economic, and
social aspects Of medical prac-
tice.
1.-The medical profession in the
United States and its policies
are influenced and to q great
extent controlled by defendant
American Medical Association.
Doctors, Kindred
"A provision, to wit: Chapter
TX, Article Nv, Section S, Of the
constitution Of defendant, the
Medical Society Of the District
of Columbia, prohibits any pro
feSSional relationship whatSo-
ever, including consultations,
between members Of the said de-
PENDANT society on the one hand
and, on the other, any doctor,
organization or group rendering