Union and in 851 county medical societies. Its purpose is to represent physicians in the fields of medical economics, public relations, and legislation. It is financed entirely by membership fees and accepts no donations or other financial aid outside of its membership. The association is democratic and sensitive to "grass roots" trends in the profession, and endeavors to translate them promptly into action. Inasmuch as its membership is found in practically every national medical group, it is thus afforded an excellent listening post by which it is capable of coordinating and interpreting the thinking and trends of the profession. It is believed its principles and objectives represent the convictions of at least 75 percent of American physicians. has been endorsed by more than 98 percent of the local medical groups to which its plan has been submitted. It The purpose or purposes for which the association is formed are as follows: To supplement the work of existing scientific medical societies by uniting physicians and surgeons so that they may act effectively in the public interest to improve the quality of medical care; to achieve the universal distribution of medical and surgical care under conditions that will both improve the quality of the services and remove economic barriers to its delivery; to establish general public understanding of, and cooperation with the profession in the objectives and purposes of individual and organized activities, and to promote ideal relations between the profession and the public; and to protect and improve the welfare and interests of its members in order that the profession may improve its service through the maintenance of professional and ethical standards that will attract the best of men and women to the study and practice of the art and science of medicine, and to that end will stress moral character and ethical attitudes of applicants for matriculation as being of equal importance with scholastic attainments. It is committed to policies which give to the individual physician as well as the patient his freedom of action, so that the traditional relation of physician and patient shall be maintained inviolate. The ultimate test of all of its actions shall always be the public interest. OPPOSITION TO S. 1606 The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons is essentially in accord with the objectives of the proposed Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill, S. 1606. It is in almost complete disagreement with the methods proposed to attain these objectives. The association agrees that health care and medical care should be always of national concern in order to stimulate positive action to achieve constant improvement; and goals for prevention and control of disease should be maintained at lofty levels. Since the matter of life and death is involved, the ultimate goal of attainment-the perfect goal-should be 100-percent elimination of disease. No group, professional, lay, or political has any higher goals for health care and medical care than the American medical profession. Look at the record of American medicine and you will find that its position of preeminence in furnishing this country with the finest medical care the world has ever known supports this fact. The association is not reactionary. It does not believe that every worth-while plan for improving health and medical care must of will be adequately safeguarded; and I close by calling ste tion to the provisions of amendment 10 of the Constit reads: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitut hibited by it to the States, are reserved to the Sates repective people. The CHAIRMAN. Senator, my understanding is that P 410, which provides the Public Health Service, has bee the Supreme Court. Particularly titles 2 and 3 were up Supreme Court on the right to levy taxes and expend public welfare. Senator DONNELL. Well, I think you are familiar wit raised on the floor of the Senate with respect to S. 191, and the school-lunch bill. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. Senator DONNELL. In which I am not attacking the pr but I think there is a limitation on the power to tax, and decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, so far which says that the Federal Government assumes the re to see to it that the welfare of every individual in the Nat adequately safeguarded. I do not think it is the law, and should be challenged clearly and distinctly in the record st The CHAIRMAN. We will take that matter up later on. Senator DONNELL. That is all I desire to say, sir. The CHAIRMAN. The next witness will be Dr. Harold T.L STATEMENT OF DR. HAROLD T. LOW, PRESIDENT, ASSOCI AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS The CHAIRMAN. Dr. Low, will you state your full na association which you represent? Dr. Low. My name is Dr. Harold T. Low, of Pueblo, C The CHAIRMAN. You are president of the Association of Physicians and Surgeons? Dr. Low. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Will you explain what that associatio it was created, and give us its membership? Dr. Low. If I may say, sir; the first paragraph or t prepared statement will take care of that. The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed, then. Dr. Low. In addition, may I say that I have practiced n 36 years and am still actively engaged therein. I am president-elect of the south central branch of the Neurological Society. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for the invitatio extended the association to appear here and to give our legislation. The CHAIRMAN. We are glad to have you here. THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND SURGE The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons w a little more than 2 years ago. In this short time, it has reaching and rapid acceptance, having members in every S tween the profession and the public: and to protect and he welfare and interests of its members in order that the may improve its service through the maintenance of pentes ethical standards that will attract the best of met the study and practice of the art and science of me Ut end will stress moral character and ethical an for matriculation as being of equal importance ments. It is omitted to policies which ysician as well as the patient his freedo aditional relation of physician and patien late. The ultimate test of all of its T e interest with the objectives of the proposed Wagner-Murray. ociation is not reactionary. It does not belie apulso n this ence i t as in by the oved, ans in ciatio yar th Phy necessity be initiated by its membership. It extends a cooperative hand and will join willingly with any group, professional, lay, or political to work toward the solution of all health problems, as long as proposed methods for operating such plans do not destroy present physician-patient relationship of free choice. Further, there must be no regimentation or compulsion, which experience shows leads to disintegration of the quality of medical care administered. Under title I, the bill provides grants-in-aid to States for the treatment and control of venereal diseases and tuberculosis, and the extension of the public health services; grants-in-aid to the States for the extension of maternal and child health services; grants-in-aid to the a States to cover medical care of the needy. The association of American Physicians and Surgeons feels that these provisions should be embodied in a separate bill. Since grants-in-aid, under proper conditions and in principle, are not objectionable, there is the danger that title I could be used for the purposes of diverting attention and making more acceptable the provisions offered in title II, which are objec tionable. Therefore the association believes it inadvisable to testify further on title I. Title II proposes benefits, which, if provided under the Americar trustworthy system of freedom of enterprise, would merit the appr bation and support of all Americans. Here again, the association is in complete disagreement with the proposed methods for furnishing these benefits. Under title II of this act the medical care is defined as personal health service benefits, and includes general medical benefits, speca | medical benefits, general dental benefits, home nursing benefits, labortory benefits, and hospitalization benefits. Thus, it is readily seer. that a complete, all-comprehensive system of medical and dental car is offered from the most transient, trivial illness to sickness of the most severe character. It is proposed to extend these all-embracing benefits to all socia security beneficiaries and their dependents, which may include man others who are members of the immediate family. These benefits may! be extended to other persons not now covered under provisions of th Social Security Act, if there is reasonable assurance that payment w be provided for such benefits. Thus, it is apparent, that by furth amendment to the Social Security Act, practically the entire popula tion of the United States would in time be eligible for personal health | benefits. ENDORSEMENT OF VOLUNTARY INSURANCE The association firmly believes that these services can be provide satisfactorily through proper, voluntary plans of prepayment saness insurance. These voluntary plans keep faith with the dem cratic principles of our American form of government as well as preserving the American system of the private practice of medie which is essential to the welfare of patients-the American public. The Association of American Physicians' and Surgeons' propos for providing these benefits is included in the association's rece mended plan for national health, which is part of this statement an later will be presented in detail. The association is opposed to title II of S. 1606 for many reasorwhich in our considered opinion, are sound. S. 1606 WOULD INVOLVE REGIMENTATION In the first place, the bill as now written, proposes compulsory health insurance. Since funds are to be appropriated for all necessary expenses to provide the benefits, it means that the American citizens will be compelled to pay a tax for a service whether they elect to ase that service or not. It is compulsion and regimentation, both of which are contrary to the democratic principles of the form of government which has made this Nation the leader of the world in all fields, including health. Further, we do not believe that good health can be compelled or legislated. The Nation's health can be improved by making available voluntary plans of sickness insurance, education of the public to use them, and education in good living and preventive medical services. In this part of the bill it is proposed that the Government collects the funds available, manages the services, distributes the payments. This is State medicine. Since all physicians, dentists, and nurses are to be hired by the Government and their services rendered under rules and regulations established by the Surgeon General, and these services to be paid for by the Federal Government, the proposed scheme is socialization of medicine. FREE CHOICE IS LIMITED BY S. 1606 The association is opposed to this part of the plan because it does not guarantee that important factor in the art of healing, of free choice of physician and free choice of patient. Proponents of this bill have made the statement that free choice is provided in the measure. This is not true. It is limited free choice with all of the destructive eventualities this limitation could impose. It is free choice only of the doctors who are willing to serve under this system. We do not believe that a majority of American physicians would serve under this scheme, which in their opinion, would result in the deterioration of the quality of medical care administered, since their first responsibility as physicians is to the welfare of their patients. It is not free choice because the bill provides that the Surgeon General can limit the number of patients that a physician may see, and he is permitted to provide other physicians when, in his opinion, too many patients select the same physician. Further, it is not free choice unless the physician is willing to work under a plan for payment of services, which plan and amount of remuneration are set up by the Government. S. 1606 MAKES THE SURGEON GENERAL A DICTATOR The proposed bill makes the Surgeon General the dictator of medicine, since he is only obliged to "consult" with council members of his own choosing. The Surgeon General is authorized to prescribe the rules and regulations, to hire and fire physicians, dentists, and nurses; establish professional standards; designate specialists and consultants-consultants' services are available only to patients on recommendation of the general practitioners; establish standards to |