Ordway Tead, educator, New York Kenneth S. M. Davidson, physicist, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey Benjamin E. Youngdahl, dean, School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis Herbert E. Phillips, D. D. S., Chicago Struthers Burt, author, California (This advertisement was paid for by signers of this statement.) STATEMENTS BY DOCTORS AND DENTISTS STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEAR SENATOR MURRAY: I am sure your committee will remember that you are not getting the real opinion of the medical profession. For purposes of advancement and hospital connections the young men cannot talk. A great many are for the National Health Act. Yours sincerely, T. ADDIS. KEW GARDENS, N. Y., May 22, 1946. Senator JAMES E. MURRAY, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: Kindly add my name to the list of dentists who favor your health bill. I am sure that the great majority of dentists would get behind your bill if they could only receive a true picture of the situation. Senator J. E. MURRAY, DR. S. H. ANDERMAN, Dentist. NEW YORK 22, N. Y., March 29, 1946. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR MURRAY: I am informed that the Senate Committee on Labor and Education will start hearings on the Wagner-Murray bill on April 2, and that physicians who are unable to go to Washington to appear before the committee may have the privilege of sending a statement to you. I further understand that such a statement may on request be included in the report of the hearings in the same manner as if it had been delivered in person. I respectfully ask that you allow me to avail myself of these privileges as I am unable to go to Washington for the hearings. As a practicing American physician, I desire to go on record as unalterably opposed to the Federal control of American medicine, for the following reasons: I. It is against the American way of life to interfere with the personal freedom of the individual. II. For nearly 100 years organized medicine here in America has worked out its own destiny so that today American medicine is second to none in the world. III. Federal control will inevitably bring political influence into medicine, and will tend to injure the original scientific research worker, who has his mind on his work, and is no match for the skillful politician. IV. The very vital and sacred relationship which exists between the American physician and his patient will be injured; and medicine which is one of the major professions will inevitably be reduced to occupying a position of commercial expediency. Respectfully submitted. EMILY D. BARRINGER, M. D., F. A. C. S. WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND, July 1, 1946. Hon. JAMES E. MURRAY, United States Senate, Washington, United States of America. DEAR SIR: I have been following through more or less verbatim reports of the hearing on S. 1606 as reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, to which journal I have contributed for some years. I am very interested in the question of medical care, particularly as I have almost completed a book on social medicine, based mainly upon our experience in this country. Under ordinary circumstances I would not presume to criticize certain aspects of the evidence tendered to your committee were it not that, directly and by implication, my own country has been mentioned. At the time of writing I have followed up the hearings until April 16 as reported in the J. A. M. A. of May 11, which is the latest issue to hand. I might here say that I am opposed to the viewpoint of organized medicine on the question of a complete universal health-insurance scheme. I have worked such a scheme in all its aspects up to and including the present time. Although it has certain bad features-which could be corrected easily-the good ones far outweigh the bad. There is a tendency for organized medicine in United States of America to hold up New Zealand as the bad boy of the family. I do not care what organized medicine in America privately thinks of the New Zealand scheme but it becomes another matter when they take the public platform and create impressions which have no foundation in fact. To cover the many aspects concerning this country's scheme which has been subject to criticism by organized medicine in the United States of America would take too long to cover adequately and, furthermore, in the sittings to come there may be many further points touched upon. I notice, for example, that Dr. Sensenich claimed that the population of the United States of America have enjoyed a better standard of health than any other country in the world. I emphatically disagree. In his evidence, Dr. Cobb stated that, in 1942, the infant mortality rate for the white population of the United States of America was 37.3. This would appear to be a very favorable year from previous statistics in my possession. In that year, however, in this country our infant death rate was 28.71 for the white population. In round figures this means that the United States of America white population had seven and one-half more baby deaths per thousand births than we had in this country. In other words, roughly 20,000 white babies died that year in the United States of America who would have lived if they had been fortunate enough to have been born in a replica of the New Zealand environment. I realize that you probably have all sorts of rules about admissibility of evidence and, in any case, the hearings may be over before you receive this letter. If, however, a rough draft of the many chapters on social medicine in New Zealand (probably about 80,000 words) would be of use to you, publicly or privately, I would be only too willing to mail it to you. As far as it is humanly possible, I have tried to be absolutely honest in the presentation of the facts, even to the extent of devoting more time to the abuses than they probably warrant. Notwithstanding this, I think the facts vindicate the decision of our Government to introduce this measure in this country. Yours faithfully, Senator ROBERT F. WAGNER, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. ALBERT D. G. BLANC. NEW YORK, April 12, 1946. DEAR SIR: In yesterday's mail I received an "emergency bulletin" from a newly formed National Committee of Dentists which is cooperating with the National Physicians Committee for the Extension of Medical Service, with which there were enclosed the famous, or let me call it infamous, literature sent out on previous occasions by the National Physicians Committee. Believing that it might be of interest to you, I am enclosing a copy of my letter addressed to the chairman, Dr. A. P. Williams, whose home is in Louisville, Ky. With best wishes for success of the Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill, I remain, Very respectfully yours, THEODOR BLUM, D. D. S., M. D. Dr. A. P. WILLIAMS, NEW YORK 21, N. Y., April 11, 1946. Chairman, National Committee of Dentists, 1841 Pittsfield Building, Chicago 2, Ill. DEAR DR. WILLIAMS: I wish to express my surprise and disappointment at the fact that such prominent men in our profession have yielded to the temp tation of the National Physicians Committee for the Extension of Medical Service. Now the dentists, too, have joined the NAM (National Association of Manufacturers) of the medical profession. I am just wondering how many of you gentlemen on the committee can honestly say that they have studied the Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill and understand and know what it is all about. It is interesting to note that most of the criticism of the bill sums up to be a selfish motive with the patients' welfare as of secondary concern. You do not seem to remember that we are a profession and not a business. No matter what you gentlemen will do, some such bill will be passed in the not too distant future and the rest of us will not be proud of you remembering your attitude. Very truly yours, THEODOR BLUM. STATEMENT BY DR. W. C. BOSTIC OF FOREST CITY, N. C., BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, HAVING UNDER CONSIDERATION THE HEALTH AND INSURANCE MEASURE My name: W. C. Bostic; I reside at Forest City, N. C. I am a duly licensed physician and have been engaged in the practice of medicine for 42 years. I am a member of the Rutherford County Medical Society, the Seventh District Medical Society, the North Carolina Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. I have been very much interested in the subject under consideration in this bill, and I have delivered numerous addresses before medical meetings in various parts of the country in discussing what I think is the proper solution of this problem. I am submitting herewith my plan for better medical care and better distribution of physicians, with special emphasis on the rural section. A PLAN FOR BETTER MEDICAL CARE AND BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF PHYSICIANS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS TO THE RURAL SECTIONS 1. We must first admit and recognize the fact that we do have a vital issue under consideration, and we are called upon to offer some tangible, workable solution in order to meet this pressing need for better medical care for the citizens of the Nation. To do this we must first recognize what has happened and when it happened before we can offer a correct agenda for study of the problem. At present it appears that all the factions contending for a solution of the problem have their agenda upside down. We would suggest that the study of the insurance feature as proposed by all factions should be placed at the bottom of the agenda and the all-important matter of better distribution of physicians should be placed first for consideration. We agree that the insurance feature is of interest to all concerned, and it will certainly be good feed for the horse, but we seem to be minus the horse. We are not able to understand just how a vast program of better medical care can be had without the special training of more doctors to staff the hospitals, scientific research laboratories, and the many localities without physicians such as the rural districts of every county in the United States. I think the program as outlined by the American Medical Association concerning the insurance feature is worthy of serious consideration, also that feature offered in the President's plan might help in the solution of the problem. However, we may defeat the President's health plan and forestall socialized medicine, but we will still have the unsolved problem of better medical care and an economic problem of tremendous importance, and a moral obligation that we dare not shirk. It is perfectly clear to those of us who have made a careful study and analysis of this problem over a period of years that the answer does not lie in compulsory insurance or in voluntary insurance, unless some satisfactory plan can be devised that will insure a more equitable distribution and placement of doctors, especially in the rural districts. 2. With a well-balanced program broad enough to solve every phase of the proposition confronting us with the needs of the Nation at this time, without creating a top-heavy overhead wasteful administration of funds before they reach the channels of relief. With such a plan of Federal assistance conjointly with various States on a 50-50 basis, the funds to trickle through to the various counties and communities of each State with proper safeguards in dispensing appropriated funds from the State and Federal Governments. 3. The ideal solution of this vital problem for the health and well-being of the Nation is a well-balanced program similar to that provided by the Duke endowment to the various hospitals and other institutions of North and South Carolina, and with a similar plan proposed and supported by the last Legislature of North Carolina which will in the near future be consummated. Why spend billions of dollars when a few hundred millions placed in the proper channels will offer the solution desired. We beieve this entire problem can easily be solved and without the expenditure of billions of dollars. I hope we can make this claim without "the sound of brass or a tinkling cymbal." Especially if we adopt the plan and the slogan that the Lord helps those that help themselves. 4. To illustrate, the Federal Government and the various States enter into an agreement on a 50-50 basis that will actually supply the needs and place adequate medical care within reach of all the people, and to duplicate the amounts donated by established foundations already acting in this field of endeavor in the various States like the Duke endowment, the State and religious organizations combined. 5. We understand that South Carolina and some of the other Southern States have under consideration similar plans; and if this can be done in North and South Carolina without making a vast expenditure, why can it not be done for the entire United States with only a few millions annually appropriated over a period of several years, and with the problem of better distribution of physicians solved by the plan proposed along with the nurses' problem which is also to bę considered in the solution of adequate medical care at this time. With the erection of more hospitals, and with rural-health centers to be located deep in the rural sections of the State, with competent and well-trained physicians to serve such communities for a period of at least 5 years with limited licenses in such fields of practice. 6. First and foremost is the demand and need for more physicians to fill vacancies caused by death and retirement of physicians and the increase in population, and better distribution of doctors for the rural sections of the State and Nation. Many splendid rural communities have suffered and died for the need of better medical care. It will be necessary for the Federal Government to offer financial assistance to the various medical colleges and to build more medical colleges and teaching hospitals for the training of doctors for this special service, by giving them free scholarships to young men and young women with limited means with an ambition to study medicine, with the understanding that in consideration of such scholarships they will be willing to tie themselves into the service in the rural sections for a period of 5 years by accepting a limited license. 7. These fields can be made attractive and inviting to this class of physicians with proper equipment such as a modern home and modern offices that enable them to render every service that is offered in a modern hospital except major surgery; and with splendid monetary returns since they would practice medicine in a large field without competition, enjoying all the courtesies of the medical profession and the medical associations of the State. 8. And to have a well-rounded program it will be necessary to provide such measures as will offer health insurance and hospitalization, such as the Blue Cross, industrial, and group, and other organizations, on a voluntary basis at a cost within reach of every man, woman, and child that will insure them the security of every health service needed and with provisions for the care of worthy charity and destitute cases. We would favor a plan of industrial insurance such as offered in the plan of service of the industrial compensation insurance for payment of doctors and hospital bills for sickness and health measures the same as served under the present compensation laws of the States for personal injury cases, with no payment to be made out of such fund for security or loss of time which might hamper the industries with employees who might, under the care of unscrupulous physicians, be out too much with imaginary ills. Such insurance would cover a large field and remunerate the physicians in a fine way for their services. We would oppose compulsory insurance by taxation and free medical care to all classes. To offer free medical and surgical treatment would likely create a race of impotent people that would have to be fed and clothed. We certainly should not attempt to create charity in order to be charitable. The Master while on earth practiced the healing art without a monetary charge, but in every instance He called for some action on the part of his patients to aid themselves. He said to the man with the withered arm, "Stretch forth thine arm." To another, He commanded him to go and dip himself seven times in a certain pool. And to the impotent man, He said, "Rise, take up thy bed and walk." We certainly should not attempt to be more charitable than the Saviour himself. Most people recover faster when they are allowed to have a part in the healing of their bodies. 9. And in this board program for better health, the Federal Government would be expected to establish and maintain scientific research centers for the study and care of unusual conditions. 10. In order that the Nation's interest, and the interest of the medical profession, and the people at large have a medium between the Federal Government, the medical profession, and the citizens at large, a physician should be included in the President's Cabinet to be known as Secretary of Health. A complete chapter could be offered sustaining this suggestion, and there is no valid reason for opposing such suggestion for the good of all. 11. I am not in accord altogether with the American Medical Association for the reason they have omitted to offer a satisfactory solution for the problem of better distribution of physicians and to supply physicians in the rural districts. No plan for better medical care can succeed without placing this feature at the head of the agenda. I am a member of the American Medical Association-I trust in good standing; but I do not approve the omission of this most important of all features. 12. To say that the expenditure of billions of dollars would be necessary to solve the entire problem as suggested is blind reasoning on the part of those who would hurry the medical profession into political medicine and the Nation into totalitarianism. Hon. JAMES E. MURRAY, Washington, D. C. UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, May 6, 1946. DEAR SENATOR: You and your fellow Senators seems to be misinformed about the large membership of the American Medical Association. Many doctors have to join their county medical societies to get on the staff of certain hospitals. In isolated sections the county medical is the only medical group. The doctors get together and hear a few medical lectures, talk shop, and also make it a social gathering. By joining your county medical you automatically become a member of the American Medical Association. I have just joined my county medical society again because I want the AMA Journal. You get this journal automatically, too. The AMA Journal is not exactly a medical magazine like Modern Medicine and others. It is a news magazine, too. At the present time it has a list of the doctors discharged, information about refresher courses for service doctors, etc. It has a list of medical offices for rent and sale, deceased doctors' homes for sale, etc. I gave up my office when I went into the service and a IV-F now has it. So I'm interested in the for rent ads and that makes me a member of the AMA. Respectfully yours, Senator JAMES E. MURRAY, Dr. G. W. CHERNOFF. CLOVIS, N. MEX., March 18, 1946. Education and Labor Committee, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: It is my understanding that the, Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill is to be heard before the Education and Labor Committee beginning March 18. May I take this occasion to raise my objections to this legislation on the following grounds as well as to appeal for the privilege of elaborating upon them if necessary at some time during the hearings? First, the age-old objection that the doctor-patient relationship must not be disturbed has, to my mind, nothing the matter with it. Under such legislation as Senate bill 1606, there must of necessity be some record of services rendered and the reasons therefore making every illness and every consulation a matter of record and infringing upon the patient's right to privacy. Second, the matter of preparing and processing records with regard to each professional service and complying with such regulations for so doing as will be inevitable under bureaucratic direction is bound to entail a tremendous amount of paper work for which the busy doctor has neither the time nor the office set-up. 85907-46-pt. 5- -32 |