Evening star., 1955-04-24
Medical Aides
Are Defended
ByCamaIier
Implied Criticism
In Report on Patient
Care Is Rejected

In keport on Futient
Care Is Rejected
Commissioner Renah r. CANA
lier last night defended DR..
Philip Stebbing. superintendent
of District General Hospital. and
Health Director Daniel L. Seek
niger against what he said was
implied criticism" In q report
on patient treatment.
The lengthy report, containing
statements from II physicians
outlining purported deficiencies
in the patient treatment pro-
gram at the hospital, has not yet
been made public by Mr.. CANA
lier.
He told a radio audience over
Station WWDC, however, that
one disturbing" feature Of the
report was "the implied criticism
of the present superintendent
and the director of public health
for being indifferent to these
needs and for invoking economy
measures to the detriment Of
patient care.
"It is difficult for me to accept
completely these charges" said
Mr.. Camalier.
Both Qualified Physicians
He said the present superin-
tendent had managed the hos
pital for several years and the
health director was the hospital
superintendent some years ago.
"They are both qualified and
recognized physicians and are,
professionally, and as public Of
fieials, interested in providing
the best possible medical care
to patients committed to their
charge" he declared.
Mr.. Camalier added he did not
mean to imply that changes may
not be necessary or that i'm
provements could not be made.
He noted that a theme Of tie
statements. a familiar one. was
more personnel-more equip
ment.-more supplies and ma
terials."
This, he said, means money.
an early estimate of between 81
and 50 million in excess of that
currently available for the hos
pital.
Out Of the Question
That, he said, "is a little out
of the question at the moment"
The city head said he had
read that the medical officers
we're disturbed" over his COM
ment that they were interested
in obtaining higher salaries.
But he said he was reiterating
that in order to maintain the
highest standards of medical
care at the hospital. he firmly
believed salaries should be paid
sufficient to attract the highest
caliber of professional men and
women. ss.s,sa*f
Mr.. Camalier said he planned
to meet with the medical officers
at $3.50 am. Thursday and visit
the hospital personally to see the
conditions and situations they
describe. 81
He said he then would report
formally to the Board Of Com
missioners so that 1t can take
whatever remedial steps may be
necessary. If the action is war;
ranted. he added. he would urge
that the matter be brought to
the attention of the House Ap-
preparations Committee during
the present budget hearings, and
that "the entire picture be
brought to the attention of the
members Of the Senate commit
tees and the full Congress"
On another subject, Mr.. Cam
alier said that In connection
with DR.. Seckinger's recommen-
dation for creation of a new
bureau of psychiatric services to
work out a comprehensive men,
tai health program for the Dis
trict. a meeting had been sched-
uled next Friday at 10 am. in
his Office.
He reported letters had gone
out to representatives of the
Georgetown, George Washington
and Howard University Medical
Schools, st. Elizabeths Hospital.
the Welfare Department, Health
Department and other profess
sional groups interested, setting
up the meeting with him and
Health Department officials.
Mr.. Camalier said also that he
welcomed" the efforts of Chair
man Mcmillan of the House Dis
trict Committee toward a study
of city government expenditures.
Mr.. Mcmillan has proposed a
resolution that would authorize