Evening star., 1961-06-04

Naval Weapons Plant because
Of "unbecoming behavior, fail
ure to practice medicine in ac-
cordance with accepted medi-
cal standards, disruption of the
medical section, use of poor
judgment in the treatment of
patients and refusal to comply
with orders Of his Superiors."
This doctors supervisor at
the Naval Weapons Plant said
that soon after this doctor had
joined the staff he realized that
he was a "paranoiac" in need
of psychiatric treatment.
"The investigation definite
ly determined that subjects
activities and mental condi-
ton. prior to licensing in the
District, we're such that ade-
quate pre- licensing investiga-
ton would have resulted in
subject being denied registra-
tion," the report said.
The report noted that the
District was saved the long and
costly litigation involved in re-
voking a doctors license only
because the man surrendered
his license in 1856 rather than
face the notoriety of a public
court hearing.
In another case, the report
said an architect was granted
a license by the District Archi-
tects Board after he falsely de-
MED that his license had never
been revoked elsewhere.
The District Board of Ex-
aminerS and Registrars of Ar
chitects revoked his license here
in 1856 after learning that
Maryland had stripped him Of
his license in that State in 1912
on the grounds that he was not
a person of good moral char
acter.
However, this architect ap-
pealed to the courts and con-
tinued to practice until his
death in 1858 because court ac-
tion had not been completed.
Police Record Listed
In another case, the report
said. the District Board of Cos
metology issued a license to a
beautician who had been ar
rested 26 times for intoxication,
20 times for mental observa-
ton, is times for disorderly
conduct, 8 for investigation,
twice for destruction of prop
erty, twice for assault, twice for
assault with a deadly weapon,
once for threat and once for
negligently setting a fire.
The report said that the
record indicated that she had
paid fines or forfeited bond on
all except the mental obSelva-
tion charges.
Two individuals were granted
licenses as pharmacists by the
District Board of Pharmacy
despite the fact that they had
criminal records, according to
the report.
Mr.. Cogswell said that until
the new program his depart
ment's investigation section had
been mainly concerned with
checking complaints about per-
sons already licensed.
He said that under the new
program great emphasis will be
placed on investigating appli-
cantS before they are licensed.
He added that the results Of
the investigation will be sub
mitted to the various licensing
boards without any recommen-
dation since he has no inten-
ton Of interfering with the
powers Of each board over Ii
censing.
Many Of these boards are ex-
tremely sensitive about any
possible infringement on their
Jurisdiction. There has already
been considerable behind-the-
SCIENCES grumbling by some
board secretaries about the de-
partment's expanded investiga-
tion program.
Purpose Of Plan
I'VE are trying to put into
effect a uniform investigation
system so that once people are
licensed, the residents Of the
District Of Columbia will have
no doubt they are morally all
right as well as competent"
Mr.. Cogswell said.
Mr.. Cogswell emphasized
that it is cheaper to make a
careful investigation of the
1000 new applications each
year than to maintain a close
surveillance over the 10000
persons licensed in the District
to practice one Of these trades
or professions.
Mr.. Cogswell said that while
the number of cases cited in the
applicant investigation report
"are admittedly few in number,
there are strong indications
that adequate pre-licensing in
veStigations would have turned
up many more similar cases of
unqualified and unethical per-
sons who are now licensed in
the District"
Corporation Counsel Gray, in
commenting on this report,
commended Mr.. Cogswell and
agreed that the report shows a
real need for improvement in
the area Of application for liz
cenSure in the various occupa-
tionS and professions referred
to in the report"
The departments investiga-
ton section now has six inves-
tigators and one supervisor.
Two were added recently to
help with the prelicensing
checks and two more will be
employed when the new fiscal