Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-28

Reply Drafted
Critics Of
Care
Standing, Committee
Expected to Okoy
Protest Resolution

ETVtGSt NSSOtuttON
The fight between the Amer
lean Legion and the American
Medical Association was devel-
oping today chiefly within the
Legion's Rehabilitation Execu-
tive Committee.
A resolution attacking the
AMA's stand on legislation to
provide medical care to veterans
In Veterans Administration hos
pitfalls, If certain diseases are "pre-
sumed" to be service connected,
is expected to receive support
from this standing committee Of
the Legion.
"The exact degree" to which
the resolution will criticize the
ANA. "has not been determined
as yet" Robert McCurdy, ma
tional chairman of the commit
tee. said today.
The ANA, at its last meeting,
opposed not only hospital care
for non-service-connected dis
abilities. but presumed service
connected cases."
Overall Statement Set.
At today's meeting he appoint
ed q special committee to draw
up an overall state Of policy to
reflect the committees thinking
on the ANA question 30 far.
He said the ANA deserved q
good kick in the teeth" for its
stand opposing medical care to
veterans with non-service con-
nected disabilities.
An educational program Ito
inform the public" as to just
what the veterans hospitaliza-
ton program is was urged by
other members of the committee.
One Legionaire said the ANA
was trying to expose the VA
hospital program as q vast
fraud"
1--WE must take definite action
to inform the public" Arthur
Price of New York, q committee
member said. Doctors only know
the ANA side. he added. and the
Legion should educate them.
Members Critical.
At yesterdays session of the
Rehabilitation Committee, the
Nationwide organization Of doc.
tors was sharply criticized BY
committee members.
Legionnaires described, from
time to time, the ANA as .
public relations outfit" q trade
union"
Chairman McCurdy, Pasadena,
Calf, said the ANA had made
deliberate attempt to mislead
the public. had LIED morally"
and had been intellectually dis
honest" in denouncing the pre-.
sumptive" portion of the law.
A service-connected disability
by presumption is a device or
procedure. according to the COM
mittee, by which Congress and
the Veterans Administration
have determined that certain
conditions arising within a given
period after war service may.
upon manifestation of such trou-
BILE and sound medical Judgment.
be presumed to be due to
service"
DR.. N. r. Booher Of Indianap-
oils. a member of the committee.
said 1t is up to the ANA to show
just why the "presumptive serv-
ice connection" is not fair.
Medically Undetermined.
DIR. H. D. Shapiro, a psychia-
trist and member of the commits
tee, said the knowledge Of pres
!. ent-day medicine is such that it
is unable to determine the cause
Of certain diseases and that.
therefore, it cannot deny the
possibility that a veteran did
pick up a disease while in
service.
In attacking the AMA's posi-
ton. he said it should be pointed
out that the presumptive clause
was put into law only after Con-
gress heard expert medical" adj
vice.
It was also emphasized by
members of the committee that
the Veterans Administration is
required. by law, to examine and
evaluate the individual case to
determine whether there is az
firmative evidence "rebutting the
presumption" The burden OF
proof rests with the Government,
1t was said.
Among diseases regarded as
presumed service-connected, If
manifest, within a year after
separation. are: Advertisements,
leukemia, Hodgkin's disease,
arthritis, epilepsies and a long
list Of tropical diseases.
The AMA's stand has been that
all legitimate service connected
cases should be given the best
possible care. But 1t holds that
in non-service- connected cases.
only INDECENT veterans suffering
from tuberculosis or psychiatric
disorders should be cared for
and that the care should cease
as soon as local facilities mon
governmentaD become adequate.
The committee also heard Adj
miral Joel T. Boone, chief medi-
cal director Of the VA, who traced
the medical program Of the VA
for the Legionnaires.