Evening star., 1939-05-28
Doctors National Spokesman
Leads Fight on Mass Medicine
DR.. Morris Fishbein of the American Medical
Association Is Colorful Figure in Battle
Over Health Specialization
By Ernest Kirschfen.

On Chicago's near North Side, just
behind the elegant veneer of Michigan
avenue, stands severely simple, eight
story Office building, its austere black
and white magniflcance in sharp con-
trast with the patched and dilapidated
houses of the neighborhood
On its top floor is a large, sunny,
birchwalled office furnished elegantly
in blue leather and mahogany. 1t is
noticeably different from the rest of the
building, given over, for the most part,
to large, bare Offices filled with innum-
cradle filing cabinets.
The building, at 535 North Dearborn
street, is the headquarters of the Ameri-
can Medical Association. The elegant
office is that of DR.. Morris Fishbein,
Knight Commander of the Crown of
Italy, editor of the Journal of the Amer
ican Medical Association and of Hygeia,
and managing editor of the A. M. AS
eight specialized journals He has been
in Washington the past week to lead the
fight against the National Health bill.
Control of these publications and of
general medical news-through the self
imposed censorship that impels many
publications to refer a medical item to
him-gives DR.. Fishbein almost COM
plete power over what Americans lay or
professional think about matters medi-
cal He supplies most of the material
on which the countrys opinions are
based.
To the public-which is supposed to
read Hygeia, while doctors read the
Journal, but apparently does not since
the former magazine is S30O0O "in the
red'-Flshbein is organized medicine
personif1ed. To some he is the Duce of
Doctors and the Fuehrer of PHYSICIANS
to all certainly he is Medicines Mouth
piece.
Flshbein deplores all these classical
tons except the last. That is his Job.
He is Just hired help" verbalizing the
policies of the associations House of
delegates he insists. He is just cog
in great organization.
1T is unfortunate" he said to this
reporter recently as he leaned back in
his big blue leather swivel chair that
some people believe run the A. M. A.
am just the contact man It is nv
job to tell newspapermen and the public
in general what the association is doing
and where it stands on a given ques-
ton. I might be expoundipg one view
point today, and in a few months I
might be ordered to publicize Just the
opposite attitude. I am only an employe.
Why, I might be fired any time
Against "Socialized Medicine"
However, as the doctor clasped his
hands behind his head there was an air
of confidence about him, indicating he
had no real fear of being fired-or of
having to change his opinion on any,
thing. Least of all on "socialized medi-
cine" which has brought about his in
dictment and that of the American
Medical Association, the District of Co.
lumbla Medical Society, the Washington
Academy of Surgery. the Harris County
(Texas) Medical Society and 20 in
dividuals at the behest of Assistant At
torney General Thurman Arnold on
charges OF violating the antitrust laws.
"The Government is trying to invade
most private relationship said DR..
Flshbein. 1T wants to interpose a third
party between doctor and patient Mass
medicine will not work. 1t has not
worked where it has been tried. Look
at England"
Certainly DR.. Fishbein has been de-
voting more and more time to opposing
innovations in the business side of medi-
cal practice. In doing SO, some observers
say, he has not kept in step with the
times. One after another, state and local
medical societies are deserting him, they
point out, to establish various health
insurance plans in the hope of FORE
stalling governmental action.
If these plans remain under the con-
troll of the doctors, they have DR.. Fish
bein's seal of approval, but if they are
managed by laymen for the benefit of
laymen, then he is against them.
Man of Great Energy.
1t is problem to which the ST. Louis
born medical propaganda has given
even more Of his energetic attention than
he used to bestow on quacks and nos
trums before the new bugaboo began to
plague the organized doctors. However,
DR.. Fishbein never has devoted all Of
his time to one thing. He is far too
versatile for that. He has such stores
of energy and works so quickly and
easily that he is crowding three or four
careers into one.
Beside his editorial positions, he holds
that of chairman of the associations
Council on Foods, the group that awards
the blue seal of approval" so eagerly
sought by advertisers, and is member
Of several other important A. M. A.