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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL DEFENCE UNION.
1518 must also within one clear day after receiving the patient woman was threatened with proceedings on the member’s give notice to the commissioners of his reception ; and if the behalf unless she immediately retracted the gross charges, patient dies, or the residence of the person receiving him is signed a statement admitting that there was absolutely no changed within the period mentioned in the certificate. foundation for them, and apologising to the member for In the notice of the death or change of residence must be given to having made them, and this was done by her. the commissioners. At the expiration of the time mentioned following account of a case dealt with by the union the in the certificate the consignee of the patient must report value of its prestige is well shown. A medical man was upon the patient’s condition to the Commissioners in Lunacy threatened by a local solicitor with an action for malpraxis under a penalty of f:.50. Only one patient may be received on the ground that he had treated in the hospital a patient
with gross want of care and skill. The solicitor demanded the name of the solicitors who would accept service of process in default of his paying a certain sum of money. The member at once communicated with the union who placed the matter in Mr. Hempson’s hands. He wrote to the solicitor justifying the member’s treatment of the case in ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL DEFENCE every way and intimating that he would accept service of process on the member’s behalf. In his reply the solicitor UNION. stated that’’having regard to the fact that the case would THE annual report for 1903 issued by the council of the be defended by the union he did not propose to proceed Medical Defence Union affords interesting reading to further."" The report affords in other places much evidence .all concerned in the welfare of the medical profession. of the benefits which the profession has received as a result During the year 1903 over 1000 cases have been brought of the union’s work in connexion with the suppression of before the council for consideration, in addition to which a unqualified practice, and the union is now probably as well large number have been directly dealt with by the general known to unqualified practitioners as it is to the impecunious secretary. No case conducted by the union has been com- litigant and the mere sending of a letter from the union offices promised. From a table of the expenses incurred by the has been sufficient in most cases to secure from unqualified union in medical defence for the last 14 years it is calculated practitioners a cessation of their practices. The annual that the average cost of legal proceedings per head works report of the Medical Defence Union deserves greater attenout at 4s. 10d., while the total legal and general expenditure, tion than is usually bestowed on publications of this kind. including all office and working expenses, averages 9s. ld. per member. The steady increase of members of the union THE RESTRICTION OF LICENSING. proves that it is firmly established in the estimation TEMPERANCE legislation moves faster in Canada than of the profession. Concerning the attitude taken by the Medical Defence Union in regard to the British Medical with us. According to the latest temperance figures the Association undertaking medical defence, the council states number of licences in Ontario has fallen from 6185 in 1875 that in its course of action it has only adhered to the to 2957 in 1903, or, on the basis of population, from one opinions expressed in 1898 when the British Medical licence for 278 persons to one for 740 persons. The greatest Association at the annual meeting held at Edinburgh reduction has been effected in the larger centres-a signifidecided by a considerable majority that medical defence cant fact. The exercise of local option which has been should not be undertaken by the association. This decision experimentally tried in many districts has had the effect In 1897 the rested almost entirely on the fact that the work of defence of notably restricting the sale of liquor. was carried on so ably already that there was no necessity age of prohibition for minors was raised from 18 to 21 to alter the memorandum and articles of association in order years. The latest hour allowed for the sale of intoxicants to provide for such work. The annual report contains an is 11 o’clock. Concurrently with these changes the limit account arranged in a tabulated form of a great many cases of population with regard to licensing has been extended dealt with by the union. Within the space of eight years and no public-house is allowed to be opened in the there have been placed in the hands of the legal adviser of immediate vicinity of a church or a school. These reforms the union 1194 cases which works out at an average of attract attention as much because of their purposeful 150 cases for each year. Mr. Hempson, the solicitor and methodical progression as because of their thoroughto the union, is of opinion that each succeeding year ness. The people of Ontario, having made up their minds to brings with it more conclusive testimony to the re- be temperate, have. step by step and Act by Act, attained a spectful regard and wholesome fear in which the union very substantial measure of success and apparently without is held by speculative litigants. That the greatest risk seriously deranging the machinery of commercial prosperity. and danger to which a medical man is exposed is that of In this country we are moving in the same direction but we libel and slander is borne out by the fact that during move more slowly and not so certainly. Nevertheless there eight years out of a total of 1194 cases 322, or nearly a is a fairly general and increasing agreement of public fourth, referred to this particular offence. The union is opinion that the retail trade in intoxicants has hitherto now said to possess an accumulation of retractions and enjoyed a too indulgent sanction and that it will bear whom restriction. This feeling is reilected in considerable apologies signed by offending parties against proceedhave been taken on behalf of of members sufficient in the terms the two latest ings Licensing Acts. The franknumber to paper entirely one of the walls of the union ness with which the feeling has been interpreted by local offices. A woman whom one member had been attending justices is probably in some degree accountable for the entirely from humane and charitable motives as her posi- more cautious and defensive character of the latter of tion and means did not permit of her paying profes- these two Acts. The principle of compensation, which sional fees accused him to his partner of having had is so carefully provided for by this measure, cannot be If it is observed immoral relations with her and stated that unless a objected to on the ground of equity. specific sum was paid to her the matter would be ventilated. without prejudice and with an honest desire to reduce the She further stated that in order to remove the evidences number of licensed houses within the limits of public of his guilt the member had performed upon her an necessity it will not prove a serious hindrance to the illegal operation and that as a consequence her general progress of temperance reform. The withdrawal of the health and condition had been seriously impaired. The prohibitory power from local justices is a step of more It is clear that such an amendment of our present procedure this will be of the greatest value, as opportunity of observation will be afforded in cases where treatment as a lunatic might be mischievous, but where to do nothing is to take still greater risks.
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with gross want of care and skill. The solicitor demanded the name of the solicitors who would accept service of process in default of his paying a certain sum of money. The member at once communicated with the union who placed the matter in Mr. Hempson’s hands. He wrote to the solicitor justifying the member’s treatment of the case in ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL DEFENCE every way and intimating that he would accept service of process on the member’s behalf. In his reply the solicitor UNION. stated that’’having regard to the fact that the case would THE annual report for 1903 issued by the council of the be defended by the union he did not propose to proceed Medical Defence Union affords interesting reading to further."" The report affords in other places much evidence .all concerned in the welfare of the medical profession. of the benefits which the profession has received as a result During the year 1903 over 1000 cases have been brought of the union’s work in connexion with the suppression of before the council for consideration, in addition to which a unqualified practice, and the union is now probably as well large number have been directly dealt with by the general known to unqualified practitioners as it is to the impecunious secretary. No case conducted by the union has been com- litigant and the mere sending of a letter from the union offices promised. From a table of the expenses incurred by the has been sufficient in most cases to secure from unqualified union in medical defence for the last 14 years it is calculated practitioners a cessation of their practices. The annual that the average cost of legal proceedings per head works report of the Medical Defence Union deserves greater attenout at 4s. 10d., while the total legal and general expenditure, tion than is usually bestowed on publications of this kind. including all office and working expenses, averages 9s. ld. per member. The steady increase of members of the union THE RESTRICTION OF LICENSING. proves that it is firmly established in the estimation TEMPERANCE legislation moves faster in Canada than of the profession. Concerning the attitude taken by the Medical Defence Union in regard to the British Medical with us. According to the latest temperance figures the Association undertaking medical defence, the council states number of licences in Ontario has fallen from 6185 in 1875 that in its course of action it has only adhered to the to 2957 in 1903, or, on the basis of population, from one opinions expressed in 1898 when the British Medical licence for 278 persons to one for 740 persons. The greatest Association at the annual meeting held at Edinburgh reduction has been effected in the larger centres-a signifidecided by a considerable majority that medical defence cant fact. The exercise of local option which has been should not be undertaken by the association. This decision experimentally tried in many districts has had the effect In 1897 the rested almost entirely on the fact that the work of defence of notably restricting the sale of liquor. was carried on so ably already that there was no necessity age of prohibition for minors was raised from 18 to 21 to alter the memorandum and articles of association in order years. The latest hour allowed for the sale of intoxicants to provide for such work. The annual report contains an is 11 o’clock. Concurrently with these changes the limit account arranged in a tabulated form of a great many cases of population with regard to licensing has been extended dealt with by the union. Within the space of eight years and no public-house is allowed to be opened in the there have been placed in the hands of the legal adviser of immediate vicinity of a church or a school. These reforms the union 1194 cases which works out at an average of attract attention as much because of their purposeful 150 cases for each year. Mr. Hempson, the solicitor and methodical progression as because of their thoroughto the union, is of opinion that each succeeding year ness. The people of Ontario, having made up their minds to brings with it more conclusive testimony to the re- be temperate, have. step by step and Act by Act, attained a spectful regard and wholesome fear in which the union very substantial measure of success and apparently without is held by speculative litigants. That the greatest risk seriously deranging the machinery of commercial prosperity. and danger to which a medical man is exposed is that of In this country we are moving in the same direction but we libel and slander is borne out by the fact that during move more slowly and not so certainly. Nevertheless there eight years out of a total of 1194 cases 322, or nearly a is a fairly general and increasing agreement of public fourth, referred to this particular offence. The union is opinion that the retail trade in intoxicants has hitherto now said to possess an accumulation of retractions and enjoyed a too indulgent sanction and that it will bear whom restriction. This feeling is reilected in considerable apologies signed by offending parties against proceedhave been taken on behalf of of members sufficient in the terms the two latest ings Licensing Acts. The franknumber to paper entirely one of the walls of the union ness with which the feeling has been interpreted by local offices. A woman whom one member had been attending justices is probably in some degree accountable for the entirely from humane and charitable motives as her posi- more cautious and defensive character of the latter of tion and means did not permit of her paying profes- these two Acts. The principle of compensation, which sional fees accused him to his partner of having had is so carefully provided for by this measure, cannot be If it is observed immoral relations with her and stated that unless a objected to on the ground of equity. specific sum was paid to her the matter would be ventilated. without prejudice and with an honest desire to reduce the She further stated that in order to remove the evidences number of licensed houses within the limits of public of his guilt the member had performed upon her an necessity it will not prove a serious hindrance to the illegal operation and that as a consequence her general progress of temperance reform. The withdrawal of the health and condition had been seriously impaired. The prohibitory power from local justices is a step of more It is clear that such an amendment of our present procedure this will be of the greatest value, as opportunity of observation will be afforded in cases where treatment as a lunatic might be mischievous, but where to do nothing is to take still greater risks.
at
a
time.
as
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