Evening star., 1950-01-23
Wants Reappraisal of Physicians Job
And Medical EducatiOn's Function

TO the Editor OF The Star:
My father was an excellent physician. He
worked as a mill hand while going to the
famed Jefferson Medical College in Phila-
delphia. So did two of my uncles. DR.. A. O.
j. Kelly, one of four first cousins who were
doctors, occupied the Chair of Medicine at
the University of Pennsylvania when he was
IS years old. He wrote a book which was
used as standard text in the leading
medical schools. Aloysius, as we called him,
never saw the inside of liberal arts school.
Your editorial of January II on the sub
ject of the shortage of doctors was excellent
and the answer to that editorial by DR..
Walter A. Bloedorn, Dean of the George
Washington University School of Medicine,
was typical of the propaganda being dished
out by the medical profession. 1t is apparent
that even DR.. Bloedorn, whose honesty and
integrity are above question, believes this
stuff. His moving answer to The Star car
ried lot of heat and sincerity but little
logic.
The Star had criticized the long years Of
expensive study required for the medical
profession and. in rebuttal DR.. Bloedorn
asks for substitute In so doing he let the
cat out of the bag. He refers to the "disci-
pline' required for the medical arts, mean
ing, I assume, the mental gymnastics to
which the student is subjected in the medical
schools.
To begin with, the medical profession has
succeeded. in magnifying itself out of all pro-
portion to its Importance. It has set itself
apart from society as a group of men and
women endowed with certain intellectual at
talnments reserved for selected few.
1t would help all of us in this discussion to
oegln with realistic appraisal of the physi-
clans function in modern society. Aside
rp1 p1oti iuo1 fa1t
the average doctor today is only an animated
robot. This is no reflection on the profession.
but merely an attempt to clarity its status
and examine its functions
The modern doctor is essentially a trans
mission belt between the patient and the
medical researcher. Any honest doctor will
tell you that the field of diagnosis and prog
nosls has been almost completely eliminated
ana, IN complicated cases, specialist is
called in for an extra fee. of course).
The glorif1cation of the profession readily
is exploded when you consider that in the
frst year Of medicine the major subjects are
anatomy. biology and biochemistry. ANATOMY
requires no intelligence in the sense of inde-
pendent Judgment and ratiocination. It is a
subject that requires terrific memory and
Is learned through the same dull routine of
man laying bricks.
student first must have had four years at a
liberal arts college. Here again, the medical
profession reveals the absurdity of it's educa-
tlonal system. DR.. Bloedorn asks for SUBJ
Stltute Tor the long years of study required
LOT the medical profession. He could start
oy abandoning the four years liberal arts
work, or at least by cutting it down to two
years OF intensive study of physiology, chem
lstry and biology. In other words. equip the
STUDENT with the tools he will use in medical
sehool. A half-baked knowledge of French
won't guarantee dexterity with forceps.
Lets not kid ourselves about the "disci-
pune required OF medical students, major
polnt IN DR.. Bloedorn's answer. The medical
schools are nothing more than high-erade
Vocatlonal schools. EUGENE KELLY.
Al -.7as o.i---- oS 40 10 H. 81
Would Help Chang Kai-shek if He Pledged
Democracy to the People of Formosa
To the Editor Of The Star:
IL seems to me that the United States
mas a singular opportunity to influence the
far East with an example of democracy in
actlon The sweeping Communist victories
IN China are discouraging and in some
measure may be due to the policy or lack
OF policy OF our State Department in the
past: Fate Is kind In offering at least
small second chance to regain our prestige
i
1t is too late to deplore our participation
IN generously handing over Formosa to
Cnlang kai-shek before peace treaty was
signed. Perhaps this seemed wise move to
our leaders at the time Likewise it is too
late to decry the Nationalists' unfortunate
choice of leadership to govern Formosa.
causing unrest and dissatisfaction among
the Formosans
Chang Kai-shek's situation is at best
dnSnnrQtn in, sxy;v, b.
munlst attack on the island and at the same
time persuading the natives to support his
regime What is lacking? Military might,
yes; but also lacking appears to be genuine
concern for the best interests of the people
involved.
Why can we not say to Chang: eve will
give you military aid and technical advice
II you will fulfill your responsibility towards
the Formosans"? Let Chang present us
with plan which he will pursue to insure
their individual rights and liberties; a plan
which Will prepare the Formosans for an
independent. representative self-govern-
ment; plan which will encourage personal
initiative and private enterprise looking for
ward TO stable economy; plan for COM
pulsory education of the natives and the
raising of educational standards and oppor-
tunltleS; plan for progressive social reform
10 raise the standard of living on the island.
naturally ghlS Is no project to be imple-
mented overnight But we could demand
blueprint of the plan with methods of pro-
posed implementation listed one, two. three
fashion. Then and only then would we
promise to give the much-needed mill
tary and technical aid. Chang Kai-shek
hardly would be in position to refuse.
The whole arrangement should be publi-
c1zed around the world. In this way we
would prove our real intentions to all. The
disgruntled Formosans and other Far East
erns would realize that our basic concern
is for their welfare and not only in pre-
venting the Communists from gaining
base on Formosa.
1t is not too late to show the Far East
democracy in action. forward-looking
policy concerned with the best interests of