Evening star., 1941-03-28


as medical director of G.. H. A.
I accepted. But they didn't need a
medical director; they needed a
rubber stamp"
What did the Board of Trustees
do concerning the Office of medical
director?" asked the defense counsel.
~They took it over"
sWho?"
The witness replied he meant
William F. Penniman, first presi-
dent of G.. H. A., and Raymond r.
Zimmerman, an organizer of G. H.
A., both officials of the Home Own
ers Loan Corp.
Tells Of Hospital Negotiations.
DR.. Brown testified that he at first
had been authorized to get in touch
with hospitals of Washington re-
garding disqualification of G. H. A.
patients and courtesy privileges for
the doctors of the G.. H. A. staff
He said he first went to Emergency
Hospital, where the superintendent,
B. B. Sandidge. referred him to the
late Gist Blair, former president
Of the institution.
did anything occur to inter-
rupt your negotiations?" asked Mr..
Leahy.
The witness said his negotiations
were interrupted by Mr.. Penniman
and Mr.. Zimmerman. DR.. Brown
said he had formulated a letter, as
suggested by Mr.. Blair, requesting
privileges for doctors at Emer-
gency Hospital. But, he continued,
at q meeting with Mr.. Penniman
and Mr.. Zimmerman at luncheon
in the cafeteria of the Home Owners
Loan Corp, II was advised they
would take care of the hospital
situation. I need give it no further
thought"
What occurred regarding the
mails?" asked defense counsel. did
mail come to you from the hospitals
to the clinic on I street,"
"It usually came addressed to
the medical director"
Did you receive instructions as
medical director concerning The
mail?"
Told Not to Open Letters.
Il first opened the letters and
turned them over to Mr. Penniman
and Mr.. Zimmerman. Later 1 was
instructed not to open the letters,
but to send them over unopened"
AFTER that. did you deal with the
hospitals?"
mo"
~Who did?"
"Mr. Penniman, mostly"
DR.. Brown was asked If he had en-
ployed DR.. Raymond E. Selders as
surgeon for Group Health Associ-
alton. DR.. Selders has figured prom
inently throughout the trial because,
the Government has charged, he
was denied courtesy privileges at the
hospitals for operations on G.. H. A.
patients. This refusal, the Govern
ment has charged, was part of the
alleged boycott by organized medi-
cine against G. H.. A. through
pressure on the hospitals.
"Yes. I employed DR.. Selders,"
testified DR.. Brown.
For what purpose?" ~~e~-s-
"As surgeon for the clinic to do
minor surgery"
Ever for general surgery?"
mo"
did you consider him qualified
for general surgery?"
mo, I do not think he should
have done general surgery"
"Why?"
Because he didn't have the train
ing"
Defense CounsePs Testimony.
Defense counsel has introduced
testimony from several hospital Of
f1c1als to the effect that DR.. Selders
was denied hospital courtesy privi-
leges because of his lack of profess
sional qualifications and not be-
cause ne was surgeon for G. H. A.
Mr.. Leahy questioned DR.. Brown
regarding the efficiency of the G. H
A. clinic. The witness testified that
when 1t first started with a COM
paratively small number of mem
bers and patients and four or five
doctors, 1t was efficient. But grad
ualy, he testified, because of the
great numbers of patients the sit
uation changed.
DID you have complaints from
tne doctors about this?" asked Mr..
Leahy.
Yes"
How many patients can a doc
tor see reasonably in a day?"
That depends on the doctor. An
average of 20 to 25 a day is a good
hard day."
After patients began coming in,
how many did doctor have to see?"
IT ran as high as so a day."
DO you think they could give
emcient medical service at the rate
OF 90 a day?"
'T do not"
How long did this situation con-
tinuep"
"As long as was associated with
the group"
Resigned After Illness.
Or. Brown testified he resigned in
April 1898, after an illness which
started in February of that wear
and ran into pneumonia.
The witness was questioned about
contracts between the medical direc-
tor and staff doctors of G. H. A.
What kind of an agreement was
made with doctors on the staff?"
AL verbal, no written contract
Or agreement"
The witness was asked about the
employment of DR.. Allen E. Lee
and DR.. Mario Scandiffio, G. H. A.
stan men, whose names have fig
ured frequently in the trial. DR..
Brown said his agreements with
both were verbal.
Asked If he had any knowledge
OF q form of contract presented
By these two doctors at a hearing
before the executive committee of
the District Medical Society, where
they faced charges of violating the
society's constitution and regula-
tons, DR.. Brown replied:
Those were gotten up for the sole
purpose of the hearing before the
SOciety. They were not in