Evening star., 1939-03-08
Agreen1entSeen
Near in Dispute
Over Ga||inger
Stand Of University
Heads BoIstered by
Mackenzie Testimony
BY DON S. WARREN.

WQCkenZIe testimony
BY DON S. WARREN.
Negotiations for settlement of the
controversy over control of Gallinger
Hospitals major wards were re-
sumed today privately, with pre-
dictions being made in several quar-
ters that a solution would be
achieved within day or two.
Interested parties declined to
discuss details of means of ending
the long dispute, which was aired
again yesterday in full day of tes-
timony before an investigating SUBJ
committee of the House District
Committee, of which Representative
Bates, Democrat, of Kentucky is
chairman.
Significance was attached to a
visit made late in the day to Chair
man Collins of the House District
Appropriations Subcommittee by the
presidents of George Washington
and Georgetown Universities, Health
Officer George c. Rutland and Rich
ard Mackenzie, special adviser to
the District Commissioners. Mr..
Collins said he believed an agree
ment would be reached.
Hopes to Avoid Trouble.
Near the close of the hearing,
Chairman Bates declared he felt it
should be possible for the health
officer and the university presidents
to get together" without having a
congressional committee raise a
stink in Congress" At this point Mr.
Mackenzie said he hoped an agree
ment would be reached before sun
down tomorrow" Others said day
or two longer might be required.
Mr.. Mackenzie, who had been en-
ployed by the Commissioners to rec
ommend whether the visiting phy-
sicians from the university med
ical schools should be returned to
control over the hospital resident
men, made clear during his testi-
mony he favored generally the posi-
tion of the university spokesmen on
this point.
Mr.. Mackenzie characterized as a
"hybrid arrangement" the present
policy of DR.. Rutland of having
the five newly appointed full-time
resident men in control over the
"heads of departments" who are Sc
lected from the visiting stats from
the university medical schools. He
said this was contrary to the &C
cepted and almost universal" prac-
tice of American cities of allowing
medical school authorities (Where
there is afflliation with a municipal
hospitaD to nominate the full-time
resident physicians. He cited poll
cies of the American College of Sur
geons in support of his recommen-
dations.
Rutland Defends Policy.
DR.. Rutland returned to the stand
late in the day to defend his pol
icies, but he voiced hope that I'VE
can come to working agreement"
and outlined the following offer:
That he would be willing to recog-
nize selected visiting staff men as
'heads of departments" at CALM
ger, provided the five resident ply
sicians were placed on a parity"
with the remainder of the visiting
physicians.
DR.. Ruhland also denied he had
been guilty of any bad faith" in
answer to charge, made yesterday
morning by spokesmen for the uni
versities, that he had made a
"breach of promise" in connection
with the status of the five "chief
resident physicians"
Out of the mass of conflicting
views and accounts spread on the
record, number of major points
appeared to go without challenge.
Among these were:
That the position of the health
officer as the legally responsible
authority over Gallinger was ac-
cepted.
That all parties were convinced
the employment of the five full-time
resident physicians had brought i'm
provement to the hospital and that
their services should be retained
!, Though there was continued dis
pute over the extent of their power)..
Il, Would Continue Teaching.
i That continuation of teaching
facilities" at Gallinger was desirable,
through an affiliation with the
/ medical schools of the universities.
III All parties to the case agreed with
! Chairman Bates that the primary
I objective was to give the best SER
\ vice to Gallingers patients.
Vt'' There were wide differences at the
hearing as to how this objective
1 might best be achieved, the basic is
sue being the extent to which the
visiting physicians should have
!, Jurisdiction over Gallinger's depart
/ ments, or whether the resident ply
/ sicians should have power to con-
;trol the services of the visiting staff.
/ and to what extent.
HI Mr.. Mackenzie said he knew OF no
hospital, with one exception, IN
which the medical school authorities
were not allowed to nominate full
! time men appointed to the resident
/, staff of the municipal hospital
= Louisville, KY, he added, is the ex-
/ lception, and in that case the medi-
|, Gal school was asked to appoint and
pay the salary of full-time men and
declined. /
Ni Charges Derelictions.
iHg When asked about deficiencies in
the hospitals operation, he declared
various officials, in the past. had
~ (See GALL1NGER, Page B-l0)