Evening star., 1946-01-17
Letters to The Star
Urges Cooperation to Solve
Health EMERGENCY
To the Editor Of The Star:


AS returned service doctor, the
writer would appreciate an opportunity
to comment on the dangerous and de-
plorable situation which seemingly ex-
lists in respect to inadequate hoSpitall-
zation facilities. Apparently, it affects
the demobilized veteran, those still in
the armed forces, as we'll as the low
priority civilian. While the remedy is
reported to be Ion order" the reassur-
ances of roseate future are small COM
fort or protection to the seriously Ill
patient whose present urgency is an
unqualified must" In good conscience
we should remember our duty to the
public and provide an immediate rem
edy.
Press reports indicate that this crit
ical shortage is Nationwide. That it
should exist in the Nations Capital is
a grave indictment of the Federal Gov
ernment which exercises paramount leg
islative and administrative jurisdiction
over the' municipal, the veteran and
service elements involved, and private
enterprise which challenges the feas-
ibility of the administrations socio-
economic thesis that the health Of the
people is the direct concern Of the state.
A do-nothing policy on the part of both
is public disservice.
Opportunity for Compromise.
Recently President Truman advocated
an ambitious national health program
whose comprehensive measures included
both remedy and prophylaxis against
such dangerous exigencies as those
which at present plague our ingenuity.
Some of his recommendations and So
cial objectives are regarded with strong
suspicion by the leadership of organ
lied medicine. With some of these
recommendations there is honest dis
sent predicated on unsatisfactory past
performance in respect to commitments
already the sovereign responsibility of
the Federal Government here in the
Nations voteless Capital. 1t would seem
that this Is an exceptional opportunity
for both private enterprise and our po-
litical leadership to demonstrate their
capacity for sensible compromise and
intelligent cooperation, to voluntarily
pool their collective ingenuity and re-
source and jointly devise and imple-
ment a practical, adequate solution.
Surely, there is ample precedent and
logic for co-ordinating the totality Of
available community resource to meet
the humane compulsions incident to
do
ated conquered territories, all available
facilities and resources were pooled and
made equitably available on the hu-
name basis of urgency and bona fide
need In the service there was no
greater crime than to fail your patient,
national or a comrade in arms. 1t Is
a cynical paradox to return to this Ma
tons Capital, the symbol of hope and
promise for the world, and to find it
so lacking in those homely virtues which
won the war for us. In the present crisis
continued need of a profound sense of
reciprocal obligation to all components
of our citizenry. Whether the seriously
i'll patient is in the armed services, or
a demobilized veteran or the sadly ha-
rassed John @. Public who eventually
foots the bills, our duty is inescapable.
We must provide an adequate remedy.
Relief Sought-Somewhere.
If we can't find practical solution
to pressing health problem here in
the Nations Capital where the Federal
Government already exercises para
mount Jurisdiction over all components
concerned, there is little logic in the
present political leadership aspiring to
the infinitely larger responsibilities of
its proposed health program. And
equally true, if private enterprise lacks
the social consciousness and initiative
to do its full duty by our sick patients
who subsidize our economic survival, we
should not be shocked or disappointed,
If their sadly strained loyalty seeks
more dependable means of succor and
relief.
THOMAS E. MATTINGLY, M. D.,
1t. Col, M. c., on terminal leave.
DiSo6reee With NJ File