The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1949-08-20

gagged IN the medical profess
race.
The invitation was rendered to
the National Medical ASsocia-
ton. an organization which be-
cause of the intolerant attitude
and exclusiveness of the Amer
lean Medical Association forced
the complete segregation and
confinement Of Negro doctors
within their own professional
and scientific society.
II is interesting to note that the
American Medical Association.
through Dr. Lull. belatedly ex-
tends the invitation TO Negro
doctors TO attend the clinical ses-
sions OF the ANA which are 10
be held at Washington. d. c., on
December 6-9th.
Assurance is given that your
membership in the National Med
ical Association will admit you
TO all clinical sessions OF the
AMA's midwinter meeting. and
further. 1T will be honored on
the same basis as fellowship
card in the ANA
II was announced also that the
eminent DR.. Peter II. Murray. /
past president OF the ANA. the
Negro body. had been named 70
the policy-making body OF ANA. !
II is proper for me to stress that
this was the first time Negro
had ever been chosen for that
group
EXPLAINS ACTION
The reason . for this belated
generosity or liberaity on the
part of The ANA toward the pro-
doctors is disclosed in the same
dispatch and reference is made
TO quotation from prepared
speech by DR.. Elmer L. Hender
son. the preSident-elect OF the
ANA and which was read bv Dr..
Lull. Its purpose IS clear and un-
nistakable
Truly ihes care times when
doctors must stnd together on rs
sues that affect the medical vsel-
fare OF the American people
Then he asserts
We mus; act 70 prevent adop- ,
ton OF political medicine IN the !
form Of national compulsory !
health insurance This scheme has
Jailed in every large country
where il has been attempted.
CALLED HYPOCRITICAL
The proffer OF this belsted re-
cognition Of the Negro doctor Is
as hypocritical and false as Is
the latter part Of this quotation
which states that the scheme"
presumably the health-insursnce
plan, which bears my name and
the endorsement OF the Truman
administration. has been tried and
failed in other countries.
rnix
statement or the expression Of |
one who has no knowledge what
evr rgarding IN subject which he
presumes to discuss IS an au-
thority.
Health insurance OF the type
and kind which is proposed under
The Wagner Murray Dngell plan
has never been tried, 10 my know
edge in any country. Most for
eign plans have been either So
-ialized. subsidized, or a COM :
posite OF both.
The American plan. whic his 40
grossly libeled by scurrilous and ,
contemplate propaganda Of the s
American Medical Association is
a pure insurance plan, the prem !
ium or which is paid equally by
the insured and by his employer
There is no subsidy: there is no ,
Specialization. and there is no in
'ereference with any basic con-
cept Of medical practice. or that
OF insurance.
ASSOCIATION DESPERATE
The hard core Of the American
Medical Association. however. in
desperation 10 defeat the popular
will supporting health insursnce.
mas gone far on this score as 10
prostitute their own bigoted con-
science and exclusive member
ship which therefore denied
scientific and professional recog-
alton 70 the ethical Negro prsc-
'itioner. refused until now the
lowering Of the bar against Negro
doctors.
Betrayal of the people OF the
Negro race who. az class. I'M
fortunately are in the lowest
classification OF our national
economy and who, on the sv-
erage. need medical insurance
even more than the white citi-
zens Of America. is the stipulated
price Of such recognition.
II ! 50 known fact that Negroes.
both professional and lsymen. in
the greatest proportion. favor
health insurance and il is recog-
nized that the Negro element
Of our citizens constitute tre- !