Evening star., 1947-07-01
Racial Problem in Medicine

To the Editor of The Star:
The white medical profession has been con-
demned for excluding qualified Negro doctors
from practicing in hospitals under their con-
troll. This discrimination Is particularly re-
sented in tax-subsidized hospitals like Gal
lnger where 70 per cent OF the patlents are
Negro. Negro doctors and medical stuoents
are denied access to the abundant clinical ma
terial provided by their own race. Complaint
is made of the unfair practice Of separating
Negro doctors from their paying patients When
they enter hospitals whose stalls are limited
to white doctors only Justice has been de-
manded from the highest levels OF pohtlcal
leadership and responsibility.
No intellectually honest person can near
the complaint and not silently pray for the
miracle OF a happy solution. The white doctor
merely has to put himself in the Negro doc
tors place to realize that the Negro doctor is
to be commended for his restraint and fore
bearance Obviously, these determinations 90
not have economic motivation. Very few white
doctors compete with the Negro doctor for his
paving patients Racial pride would prevent
this in the most intolerant. Most of us feel
the Negro doctor should be encouraged to
assume full professional responsibility and
leadership in raising the health and economic
standards of his own race. Therefore, we
cannot consistently charge the Negro with
disproportionate demands upon tax-subsidlzed
services and refuse qualified Negro doctors
equitable means to Hquidate this alleged racial
liability.
Fiat or compulsion Is not the answer Some
how we must work this thing out with lot
of give and take on both sides Galllnger Hos
pital could lend itself to a pilot experiment
In irter-racial cooperation that would make
all of us happier and less ashamed 1t would
mean setting up small department within
Gallinger operated by Negro doctors and nurses
This Is to avoid possible resentment OF white
nurses taking orders from Negro superior.
Liaison between racial groups would be at the
teaching level where there is minimum OF
purely social attitudes and amenities. Inc
social implications of propinquity would be
reduced to the dispasslonately PROFESSIONAL.
From this humble beginning it would be pos
sible to experiment with other techniques pur-
posed to solve or remove inter-racial fr1ctlons
There are compelling moral and economic
reasons for the white physician not to ignore
this ancient challenge to heal himself. The
moral reasons spring from the fact we are
a learned profession.
The economic reasons for deWsing practical
techniques of inter-racial cooperation between
doctors are even more compelling. The prac-
tice of medicine Is overdue for far-reaching
social changes. The legislators Of both politi-
cal parties are pledged to find ways and means
to solve the universal problem of high cost
and poor distribution of essential medical care
Common sense tells us 1t will not be Jim
Grow program. In the past, we profitably have
used the Negro as our guinea pig IN clinical
medicine Let us have the good sense to de
1t In medical economics. This means learning
unselhshly to work together on common prob
lens for the common good.
THOMAS z. MATTNGLY, ND.