THE MEDICAL MAN AND THE CONSTITUTION
Authors: K C SEARS
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1946)

Article1 August 1946THE MEDICAL MAN AND THE CONSTITUTIONKENNETH C. SEARS, J.D.KENNETH C. SEARS, J.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-25-2-304 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptMEDICAL STANDARDSLICENSE REQUIREDIn his opinion in Lambert v. Yellowley1 Mr. Justice Brandeis uttered the following dictum: "Besides, there is no right to practice medicine which is not subordinate to the police power2 of the states. . . ."One decision cited by Mr. Justice Brandeis to support his dictum was Dent v. West Virginia.3That state in 1882 passed a statute which required every medical practitioner to meet one of three standards: (1) a graduate of a reputable medical college; (2) a practitioner in West Virginia continuously for ten years prior to March 8, 1881; or (3) pass...Notes1. 272 U. S. 581, 47 S. Ct. 210 (1926). Google Scholar2. For the benefit of the medical profession it is perhaps desirable to state that the term police power is just one way of expressing the idea that is better expressed by the words, regulatory power. Sometimes this regulatory power can be extended to a prohibition. Google Scholar3. 129 U. S. 114, 9 S. Ct. 231 (1889). Google Scholar4. Reetz v. Michigan, 188 U. S. 505, 23 S. Ct. 390 (1903); Watson v. Maryland, 218 U. S. 173, 30 S. Ct. 644 (1910—due process and equal protection); Collins v. Texas, 223 U. S. 288, 32 S. Ct. 286 (1912—osteopathy); Crane v. Johnson, 242 U. S. 339, 37 S. Ct. 176 (1917—drugless practitioner); Douglas v. Noble, 261 U. S. 165, 43 S. Ct. 303 (1923—dentists); Graves v. Minnesota, 272 U. S. 425, 47 S. Ct. 122 (1926—dentists; see citation of many state decisions); Sage-Allen Co. v. Wheeler, 119 Conn. 667, 179 Atl. 195, 98 A. L. R. 897 (1935—optometry). Cf. People v. Griffith, 280 Ill. 18, 117 N. E. 195 (1917—Act of 1915 to regulate optometry invalid). Google Scholar5. Meffert v. Packer, 66 Kan. 710, 72 Pac. 247, 1 L. R. A. N. S. 811 (1903); Richardson v. Simpson, 88 Kan. 684, 129 Pac. 1128, 43 L. R. A. N. S. 911 (1913—dentist); Laughney v. Maybury, 145 Wash. 146, 259 Pac. 17, 54 A. L. R. 393 (1927—advertising); Yoshizawa v. Hewitt, 52 F. (2d) 411, 79 A. L. R. 317 (1931); State Dental Examiners v. Savelle, 90 Colo. 177, 8 Pac. (2d) 693, 82 A. L. R. 1176 (dentist practising as employee of a corporation). Google Scholar6. Green v. Blanchard, 138 Ark. 137, 211 S. W. 375, 5 A. L. R. 84 (1919—dentist—divided court). Google Scholar7. Laughney v. Maybury, 145 Wash. 146, 259 Pac. 17, 54 A. L. R. 393 (1927); McNaughton v. Johnson, 242 U. S. 344, 37 S. Ct. 178 (1917); People v. Witte, 315 Ill. 282, 146 N. E. 178, 37 A. L. R. 672 (1924). Google Scholar8. Louisiana State Bd. of Medical Examiners v. Fife, 162 La. 681, 111 So. 58, 54 A. L. R. 594 (1926). While not precisely the same it appears impossible to reconcile satisfactorily with the Louisiana case, People v. Love, 298 Ill. 304, 131 N. E. 809, 16 A. L. R. 703 (1921) and People v. Schaeffer, 310 Ill. 574, 142 N. E. 248 (1924). Google Scholar9. People v. Lewis, 233 Mich. 240, 206 N. W. 553 (1925—Michigan recognized chiropractors but held that one desiring to practice the system of chiropractic is not deprived of the equal protection of the laws by requiring him, as a condition for securing a license, to pass an examination in anatomy, histology, embryology, physiology, chemistry, bacteriology, pathology, diagnosis, hygiene, and public health, although such subjects are not taught in chiropractic schools). The board of regents of Texas University leased land to the city of Galveston for a municipal hospital, reserving the right to use part of the hospital for clinical instruction of university medical students. The hospital board in charge of the hospital excluded licensed osteopathic physicians from using this hospital. But this was held to be no violation of due process or equal protection. Hayman v. City of Galveston, 273 U. S. 414, 47 S. Ct. 363 (1927—"We cannot say that a regulation excluding from the conduct of a hospital the devotees of some of the numerous systems or methods of treating diseases authorized to practice in Texas, is unreasonable or arbitrary.") See for a more general discussion of equal protection, Iowa Ec. Med. College Ass'n. v. Schrader, 87 Ia. 659, 55 N. W. 24, 20 L. R. A. 355 (1893). Google Scholar10. State ex rel. Walker v. Green, 112 Ind. 462, 14 N. E. 352 (1887); 136 A. L. R. 219 (Annotation). See, also, Fairfield v. Shellenberger, 135 Ia. 615, 113 N. W. 459 (1907—special license tax on traveling physicians). Cf. State v. Doran, 28 S. D. 486, 134 N. W. 53 (1912 occupation tax applicable only to non resident itinerant physicians invalid). Google Scholar11. State v. Luscher, 157 Minn. 192, 195, N. W. 914 (1923). Google Scholar12. York v. State, 144 Fla. 216, 197 So. 766 1 Loyola L. Rev. 109 (1940—It is not clear whether the peremptory writ of mandamus required the board to produce the examination papers of June 1939 in order to determine whether relator's grade entitled him to a certificate or whether it required the board to issue the certificate forthwith). Google Scholar13. Semler v. Oregon State Board of Dental Examiners, 294 U. S. 608, 55 S. Ct. 570 (1935). Google Scholar14. People by Kerner v. United Medical Service, 362 Ill. 442, 200 N. E. 157, 103 A. L. R. 1229 (1936). The opposite ruling was made in New York as to a chiropodist: People v. Dr. Scholl's Foot Comfort Shops, Inc., 277 N. Y. 151, 13 N. E. (2d) 750 (1938). Google Scholar15. 12 Cal. (2d) 156, 82 P. (2d) 429, 119 A. L. R. 1284 (1938). Google Scholar16. Butterworth v. Boyd, 12 Cal. (2d) 140, 82 P. (2d) 434, 126 A. L. R. 838 (1938). Google Scholar17. California Physicians' Service v. Garrison, Cal. App. 155 P. 2d 885 (1945). Google Scholar18. Group Health Ass'n v. Moor, 24 F. Supp. 445 (1938). Google Scholar19. Jordan v. Group Health Ass'n., 107 F. 2d 239 (1939). See, however, U. S. v. American Medical Ass'n., 110 F. 2d 703 (1940) where the Circuit Court of Appeals was unable to say that the Group Health Association, Inc., as described in the indictment before the court, was illegally practising medicine. Google Scholar20. See the opinion in U. S. v. American Medical Ass'n., 110 F. 2d 703, 714 (1940). Contrast 27 Marq. L. Rev. 135 (1943). Google Scholar21. Jewell v. McCann, 95 Ohio St. 191, 116 N. E. 42 (1917) Google Scholar22. Missouri ex rel. Hurwitz v. North, 271 U. S. 40, 46 S. Ct. 384 (1926). Google Scholar23. Brinkley v. Hassig, 130 Kan. 874, 289 Pac. 64 (1930). Google Scholar24. Brinkley v. Hassig, 83 F. (2d) 351 (1936). Google Scholar25. Disqualification on the Ground of Bias as Applied to Administrative Tribunals, 23 The Canadian Bar Rev. 453 (1945); Re Segal and Smith, 5 Fed. C. C. Rep. 3 (1937). Google Scholar26. State v. Schultz, 11 Mont. 429, 28 Pac. 643 (1892). Google Scholar27. Dyment v. Board of Medical Examiners, 57 Calif. App. 260, 207 Pac. 409, 412 (1922); Bley v. Board of Dental Examiners, 120 Calif. App. 426, 7 P. 2d 1053 (1932); Kalman et al. v. Walsh et al., 355 Ill. 341, 189, N. E. 315 (1934); Abrams v. Jones, 35 Ida. 532, 207 Pac. 724 (1922). Google Scholar28. U. S. v. American Medical Ass'n., 28 F. Supp. 752 (1939). Google Scholar29. U. S. v. American Medical Ass'n., 110 F. 2d 703 (1940). See The Medical Profession and the Sherman Act, 8 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 1034 (1940). Google Scholar30. Ibid at p. 711. Google Scholar31. American Medical Ass'n. v. U. S., 130 F. 2d 233 (1942), 317 U. S. 519, 63 S. Ct. 326 (1943). See comments in 29 Corn. L. Qu. 271 (1943); 29 V. L. Rev. 832 (1943), 18 Tenn. L. Rev. 393 (1944). Google Scholar32. Hughes v. Good Samaritan Hospital, 289 Ky. 123, 158 S. W. (2d) 159 (1942), reviewed in 31 Ky. L. Jr. 197 (1943). Google Scholar33. Compulsory Vaccination and Sterilization: Constitutional Aspects, 21 N. C. L. Rev. 253 (1943). Google Scholar34. Potts v. Breen, 167 Ill. 67, 47 N. E. 81 (1897—A rule of State Board of Health compelling vaccination of school children is unreasonable and beyond the power of the board where smallpox does not exist in the community and there was no reason for apprehension); Lawbaugh v. Board of Education, 177 Ill. 572, 52 N. E. 850 (1899); People v. Board of Education, 234 Ill. 422, 84 N. E. 1046 (1908). See also Burroughs v. Mortenson, 312 Ill. 163, 143 N. E. 457 (1924) and People v. Tait, 261 Ill. 197, 103 N. E. 750 (1913). Google Scholar35. Hagler v. Larner, 284 Ill. 547, 120 N. E. 575 (1918). Google Scholar36. The decision and the attitude of the Supreme Court of Illinois was much better in People ex rel. Barmore v. Robertson, 302 Ill. 422, 134 N. E. 815 (1922). There it was held that a typhoid carrier had been legally placed under a quarantine which required her to remain in her home and forbade her to prepare food for anyone except her husband and forbade anyone to come into her home, as a roomer or otherwise, unless he had been immunized from typhoid fever. Google Scholar37. State ex rel. Adams v. Burdge, 95 Wis. 390, 70 N. W. 347 (1897). See a criticism of the Burdge case in Ex parte Company, 106 Oh. St. 50, 59, 139 N. E. 204 (1922). Google Scholar38. Hartman v. May, 168 Miss. 477, 151 So. 737, 93 A. L. R. 1408 (1934). See also Zucht v. King, 260 U. S. 174, 43 S. Ct. 24 (1922). Google Scholar39. See an editorial in 26 Ill. L. Rev. 785 (1932). People v. Pierson, 176 N. Y. 201, 68 N. E. 243 (1903) holds that a statute that makes it a misdemeanor wilfully to omit medical attendance for an adopted child did not violate the father's constitutional freedom of religion even though he believed in divine healing and not in physicians. See also Owens v. State, 6 Okla. Cr. Rep. 110, 116 Pac. 345 (1911). Google Scholar40. Ex Parte McGee, 105 Kan. 574, 185 Pac. 14, 8 A. L. R. 831 (1919). See also People v. Thomas, 231 N. Y. S. 271, 133 Misc. Rep. 145 (1928—detention for blood test); In re Caselli, 62 Mont. 201, 204 Pac. 364 (1922); Ex parte Company, 106 Oh. St. 50, 139 N. E. 204 (1922); In re Travers 48 Cal. App. 764, 192 Pac. 454 (1920). Contrast Wragg v. Griffin, 185 Ia. 243, 170 N. W. 400 (1919) which appears to be a reactionary decision. Google Scholar41. In re Vasko, 263 N. Y. S. 552, 238 App. Div. 128 (1933). This decision was the subject of comment in 12 Tenn. L. Rev. 59 (1933); 14 Boston U. L. Rev. 196 (1934); 28 Ill. L. Rev. 556 (1933). In re Rotkowitz, 25 N. Y. S. 2d 624, 175 misc. 948 (1941) is a similar decision upon an order for an operation to correct and prevent extension of a leg deformity induced by poliomyelitis. The mother of the child petitioned for the order and the court found that the child was neglected by the father who would not consent to the operation. He gave no reason for his opposition. Google Scholar42. In re Hudson, 13 Wn. (2d) 673, 126 P. 2d 765 (1942). The comment on this decision in 28 Ia. L. Rev. 372 (1943) is mildly critical: "Even in the absence of statute, the state's right of guardianship is superior to that of the parent if the assertion of the right is necessary for the welfare of the child. This authority should extend to an order for surgical care in a proper case." Google Scholar43. 25 N. Y. S. 2d 624, 175 Misc. 948 (1941). Google Scholar44. State v. Fray, 214 Iowa 53, 241 N. W. 663, 81 A. L. R. 286 (1932). See Legal Control of Medical Charlatanism, 22 N. C. L. Rev. 23 (1943) discussing and comparing the use of criminal prosecution, quo warranto, and injunction. Google Scholar45. State ex rel. La Prade v. Smith, 43 Ariz. 131, 29 P. (2d) 718, 92 A. L. R. 168 (1934). Google Scholar46. Dean v. State ex rel. Anderson, 151 Ga. 371, 106 S. E. 792 (1921); Redmond v. State ex rel. Attorney General, 152 Miss. 54, 118 So. 360 (1928—recommendation that state proceed by information to abate nuisance with a jury trial); State v. Maltby, 108 Neb. 578, 188 N. W. 175 (1922); People v. Chiropractors Ass'n., 302 Ill. 228, 134 N. E. 4 (1922). Google Scholar47. Lambert v. Yellowley, 272 U. S. 581, 47 S. Ct. 210, 49 A. L. R. 575, 588 (1926). Early Legislation Regulating The Practice of Medicine in 18 Ill. L. Rev. 225 (1923) is of general interest. Google Scholar48. 268 U. S. 5, 45 S. Ct. 446 (1925). Google Scholar49. See McConnell v. Knoxville, 172 Tenn. 190, 110 S. W. (2d) 478, 113 A. L. R. 966 (1937). Google Scholar50. Commonwealth v. Gardner, 300 Mass. 372, N. E. 2d 222 (1938); 6 U. of Chic. L. Rev. 260 (1939) is critical of this decision. See also 50 Yale L. Jr. 682 (1941); 37 Mich. L. Rev. 317 (1938); 7 George Washington L. Rev. 255 (1938); 16 N. Y. U. L. Qu. Rev. 149 (1938). Google Scholar51. Gardner v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 305 U. S. 559, 59 S. Ct. 90 (1938). Google Scholar52. Tileston v. Ullman, 129 Conn. 84, 26 A. 2d 582 (1942). Two of the five judges dissented on the interpretation of the statute; but they said nothing about its constitutionality. See 20 Boston U. L. Rev. 551 (1940); 3 Univ. of Det. L. Jr. 216 (1939). Google Scholar53. Tileston v. Ullman, 318 U. S. 44, 63 S. Ct. 493 (1943). Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Chicago, Illinois*Received for publication April 1, 1946. The following discussion is not closely confined to constitutional problems; nor is it limited to physicians and surgeons.†J.D.; Professor of Law, The University of Chicago. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 August 1946Volume 25, Issue 2Page: 304-323KeywordsGraduate medical educationSurgeons ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 August 1946 PDF downloadLoading ...