Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-05
Wants Industrial Court

To the Editor of The Star:
As we read the daily papers. we must realize
that We are coming closer to a showdown with
organized labor.
The Taft-Hartley law is q strong step in
the right direction. but has done, and can do
little or nothing to stop the greatest danger
to our economy which is the strike called by
pitifully few labor leaders, resulting in
paralysis of one or more OF our vital indus
tries
never lending cycle OF increased wages
and higher prices has brought this country
to point where thinking people are wonder
ing how long 1t can keep up.
The answer is to outlaw all strikes The
right to strike has placed in the hands of
unprincipled labor leaders the power to throw
thousands of men out OF work and practically
dictate to the United States Government q
course to be followed entirely at variance
with the wishes of majority of the Amer
lean people.
In what other walk Of life can 4 man
approach an employer or business associate,
grab him by the throat, and choke him until
he gives him what he wants?
That Is exactly what organized labor
through strikes. does to the officials of our
great industries. What has been the result?
AoAoy PilSCo uP AW " SUU PCT cent
and the cost Of living is out Of all reason
The cost OF food, clothing. automobiles and
practically everything that We require in our
daily lives is beginning to hurt and the
undeniable cause OF 1t all is wages, brought
to the present high level through the medium
of strikes and strikes only
What should be done Is TO establish a labor
court which would be second only to the
United States Supreme Court, with the power
to adjudicate all differences between employers
and employees, the decisions of this court to
be final, subject only to review by the SUI
preme Court. WILLIAM c. LOCKER
The Predicament of the Family Doctor
To The Editor of The Star:
Recently there has been much public praise
and recognition of the family doctor For the
first time the American Medical Association
selected and honored the Nations outstanding
general practitioner. There also has been in
tensive effort to organize general practitioners
into local and national groups similar to sur
geons, obstetricians and other specialists.
On the surface this appears belated recoe-
milton of the family DOCTOR He is the weary
day laborer of the healing arts who carries 80
per cent of the patient-load and receives less
than rs per cent of the rewards. The specialist
gradually has supplanted him and diverted
larger ratios Of total revenues from his less
expert hands.
There was little organized protest until it
began to appear that specialists were using
their controls over approved hospitals to re-
duce the family doctor to the status of 4 mid
wife and frst-aid techncian. This was done
by each speciality enlarging the list Of opera
lions and complications which only certified
consultant could perform or manage in an ap-
proved hospital. The end result was to reduce
the approved services q family doctor might
perform to humiliating proportions
There are persuasive arguments both for and
against this intolerable situation. In our recent
past most hospitals urgently needed \ pro-
fessional housekeeping. Unqualified and I'M
scrupulous doctors were killing and manning
patients by attempting treatment and opera
lions beyond their competence. They had
licenses from the state to practice all medicine
and surgery without prescribed limitations.
They did 1t WITH CHASTITY results. Professional
conscience gave the various specialists
authority to prescribe remedies in their own
fields. They corrected these grave breaches
Of professional trust by raising standards OF
qualifying competency to highest levels. As
result the patient now is protected from the
incompetent and INSCRIPTIONS in all approved
specialist has disqualified the family doctor
from doing many things within his admitted
competence.
The resulting rebellion of the family doctor
Is understandable. Many feel that the special
ist now is using unnecessarily high standards
as economic weapons to restrain fair COMPETE
ton between qualified eligibles. Regardless OF
the truth or falsity of the accusation there are
compelling reasons for both hospitals and spe-
cialists to be understan dng and tactful.
II you make standards of competency too
high, the family doctor will compensate by
qualifying as specialist. This trend already
has supersaturated the various specialties to
the detriment of both patients and competing
doctors.
If hospitals persist in this unfair discrimna-
ton against the conscientious family doctor,
they will drive minor procedures back to homes
and offices. This will be a step backward for
all concerned. In approved hospitals the
doctors entire professional performance Is SUBJ
ject to the constructive criticism and review
of his superiors. Presumption is discouraged.
Incompetence is rebuked and disciplined.
Honest errors and dangerous complications
promptly are discovered and remeded. But
turn the clock back and we make presump-
lions and accidents more likely We must re-
henhpei thdI Tie hospital is Cne QOctor proper
workshop 1t is the only place where every
advantage is with the patient. All doctors
should be encouraged to make more, rather
than less USE of this dependable facility Any
other policy will harm our patients And this
only may\ be done by hospitals using high
standards To protect patients rather than as
q suspected means Of discouraging competition
among the equally competent
THOMAS E. MATTINGLY, MD
The A&nostic Point of View
To the Eoitor Of The Star: 81
have just read your editorial in The Sun
day Star entitled 1.-THE First Cause Uncaused."