Evening star., 1950-07-30
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and the status of civilian defense
programs with Federal and mill
tary leaders and medical repre-
sentatives from eight States and
the District.
The council said in q state
ment it feels that those who have
the greatest obligation for military
service. namely those physicians
trained at government expense
and otherwise deferred during
World War II, should come for
ward"
This group of young doctors
was given top priority by the
council in q resolution to AMA's
Board Of Trustees. recommending
the order in which doctors should
be selected for service. The reso-
luton was not made public, but
1t was understood the council
urged that the first group should
be followed into service by other
doctors who did not serve during
the war and those who served for
limited periods.
Recommendations Followed.
The resolution also was reported
to follow closely recommendations
voted this week by the Physician
veterans OF World War II. a
group Of about 400 doctor-veter-
ans OF the District.
These recommendations. to be
presented to the District Medical
Society's executive committee to-
morrow night. ask that q seven
man committee be formed to spur
voluntary acceptance of active
DUTY by moral suasion." Sources
OF the first volunteers, the doctor
veterans believe, should be:
l. Those trained at Govern
ment expense who, in the opin-
Ion OF the committee, did not
see sufficient active duty after
tueT Cralnlng.
q. Those who did not see any
active service, regardless of age
physical status and so-called es-
sential positions.
Doctors here said no machinery
has been worked out under which
the committee would persuade"
doctors to volunteer. It is ex-
pected, however, that the ANA
will recommend a program under
which the District would have
some sort Of quota of doctors
needed. To meet present needs.
at least, the number of District
physicians should not be large.
doctors said.
ReserviSts Get Army Letter.
Regardless Of where such a pro-
gram would originate, DR.. Hen
derson pointed out. its success
will depend on activity Of COM
munity and State medical socie-
ties.
AS a preliminary step, mean
while. the Army recently sent
5000 letters to doctor r-reservists
who hold Army commissions as
lieutenants and captains, asking
for voluntary acceptance of duty.
Only 200 replied. and only Is ac-
cepted, officials said.
An official of the Army Surgeon
Generals Office said a decision
will have to be made in a matter
OF weeks as to whether it will be
necessary to order reserve doctors
to duty regardless of their wishes.
DR.. James c. Sargent, chairman
OF the ANA council, pointed out
that more than $4,000 civilian
doctors entered service during the
war on a voluntary basis. But he
made plain that at present his
group believes the voluntary ac-
tton should come from those de-
ferred from service so they could
finish training.
The Army has under study, off,
cials said. the question of whether
there is any legal obligation of
service by men trained in the
Army Specified Training Pro-
gram or Navy Viz programs.
Most Of these men now are In pri-
vate practice, ANA officials said.
The Army, officials noted, has
a very realistic need" for 354
doctors at this time, and the Navy
needs 400, a spokesman said.
Neither service plans a nurse
Gallup.
Meanwhile the Army-like the
Navy, Air Force. Marine Corps