- SUPPL1EM:ENT- TO THE BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL. LONDON: SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH, 1913. CONTENTS. NATIONRIL INSURRINeE. PAGE PAGEI Mational Insurance Act: STATE SICKNESS INSURANCE COMMITTEE ... ... 521 MEDICAL AID INSTITUTES .. ... ... ... 521 lOCAL MEDICAL COMMITTEES: SICKNESS CLAIMS AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATES ... ... 521 WAlINING RESOLUTIONS OF THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL 522 Barrow-in-Furness ... ... ... ... ... 523 CANVASSING AND TOUTING ... ... ... ... 522 \West Riding cf Yorkshire ... ... ... 524 THE POSITION IN SOUTH WALES ... 522 ... 524 Kingston-upon-u... ... IIEETINGS OF INSURANCE COMMITTEES ... ... 525 Cardiff O.. 524 INSURANCE NOTES ... ... 526 Cornwall ... ... ... 524 RIEPORTS OF LOCAL ACTION ... ... 527 Hampstead *.. ... ... ... 525 INSURANCE ACT IN PARLIAMENT ... ... 529 CORRESPONDENCE ... 530 ASSOeIATION INTELLIGEN@E, -ET@,. Meetings of Branches and Divisions ... ... ... 531 General Medical Council: THE EIGHTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING: Public Health Committge.-Students Registration Committee. T1E SECTIONS: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION *,* ... 539 -British Pharmacopoeia.-Results of Examinations.-Penal PATHOLOGICAL MUSEUM ... .-. ... ... 540 Cases.-Dental Disciplinary Cases.-Vote of Thanks ... 544 LIBRARY OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.- HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS ... ... ... ... 549 BDoKs ADDED BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER. 1912, AND VACGANCIES AND APPOINTMENTS ... ... ... 550 BoOKS NEE'DED TO COMPLETE SE'RIES .. .. ... 541 ASSOCIATION NOTICES.-BRANCH AND DIVIsION MEETINGS TO BIRTHS. MARRIAGES. AND DEATHS ... ... ... 551 BE HELD ... ... ... ... ... 542 RECENT PUBLICATIONS .. .. ... ... 551 CENTRAL MIDWIVES BOARD ... ... E...45 PUBLISHERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS ... ... ... 551 NAVAL AND M31ILITARY APPOINTMENTS ... ... 546 DIARY FOR THE WEEK ... ... ... ... 552 VITAL STATISTICS 5... ... ... ... ... 47 DIARY OF THE ASSOCIATION ... ... ... ... 552 National Insurance. NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT. It is quite evident that contracting out on a large scale is a procedure which may cut both ways, and if MEDICAL AID INSTITUTES. collective contracting out, were once permitted to A DEPUTATION was received by the Chancellor of the large groups of ilnsured .persons, and they were able -Exchequer on Wednesday, June 4th,- consisting of to obtain the full money contribution allotted for offlters and supporters of various medical aid insti- medical benefit, and to make a profit out of its tutes and similar associations. The deputation was administration at the expense of the medical services, accompanied by Mr. Worthington-Evans and Mr. there would be nothing to prevent the money voted Leif Jones. by Parliament for providing medical attendance and We understand that the general purpose which the treatment for insured persons being 'applied to other members of the deputation had in view was to make objects. This is a side of contracting out which representations against 'the effect of the present should be clearly borne in mind, 'and.. is a danger Regulations relating to medical aid associations and which may be attendant upon any ill-considered existing institutions. These Regulations provide, in movement in this direction. effect,'that the grants to be made to such institutions shall only cover- the cost incurred in providing SICKNESS CLAIMS AND MEDICAL me4ical treatment and attendance for insured persons, CERTIFICATES. which must be of an adequate character whilst It would appear that statements and representa- allowing, a proper margin for maintenance and tions are being-freely made -by officers of approved expenses, and do not permit of a profit being societies to the effect that the demands upon the made 'out of the medical service. The pro- sick funds of the societies are greater than was visions of the Regulations are designed to carry anticipated, and that , certificates of inability to out the' undertakings given by the Chancellor of work are being signed, it is,' said, bv'some medical the Exchequer in November, 19II, that the con- men with too much readiness. 'Arising- out of this tributions from the funds out of which medical the demand for the appointment of. medical referees benefit is payable are towards the cost of medical is attracting increased. attention; and, apart from Atendance and treatment, and will not be allowed to the circular issued by the General Medical Council, be devoted to other objects. It is to be hoped tiat' it is clearly to the. interest of members of the the medical profession -will be keenly alive to the medical profession that' they should unite to pre- principles which are involved in* this agitation, and vent any abuses in this' direction. A ground for 'which - also are' presented in another form' in the this warning is found in the fact that there are movement towards, collective contracting out which signs of renewed agitation on the part of the older has arisen in WVales. -.. societies to be allowed to appoint their own- medical [4771 SUPPLZXRNT To TRz 1 THE POSITION IN SOUTH WALES. 522 BBMSBBmT,NM,DIcJLLJoUUNAL]M39DICAL JOUMALJ THE POSITION IN SOUTH WALES. [JUNE 14,I4, 1913.19I30 " officers to attend upon their members. This, of associated with them. The President therefore invited course, would mean an amendment of the Insurance the Insurance Commissioners to call the attention of all Act in a direction which, it is true, is not to be Insurance Committees, Local Medical Committees, and approved societies and institutions to the following notices' anticipated, but at the same time it is a movement published by the General Medical Council on June 6th,! which has strong support, and, if allowed to develop, 1889, and December 1st, 1905, and still operative: would be very harmful to'the best interests of medical practitioners. It is quite clear-that the most effectual Notices. of it is to exercise constant care in The General -Medical Council considers that, in the' way preventing interests of' the medical profession, it is advisable to the grnting of certificates, and to see that no bring to the notice of-its members certain resolutions- encouragement is given by any laxity to trivial or which have from time to time been adopted as expressing frivolous claims. the views of the Council upon certain forms of professional misconduct which have been or may be dealt with as amounting to I" infamous conduct in a professional WARNING RESOLUTIONS OF THE GENERAL MEDICAL respect " within the meaning of Section 29 of the.Medical COUNCIL. Act, 1858. The Council, however, wishes it to be dis- It may be convenient here to reproduce the warning tinctly understood that these resolutions are not exhaustive notice issued by thb General Medical Council in Novem- of the forms of professional misconduct which may be ber, 1911: dealt -with by the General Medical Council under its disciplinary powers, and that the Council is not in any Whereas registered medical practitioners are in certain way precluded from considering and dealing with any cases bound by law to give, or may be from time to time form of professional misconduct outside the scope or caljed upon or requested to give, certificates signed by precise language of the following resolutions: them in their professional capacity, for subsequent use either in courts of justice or for administrative purposes. (1) " That the Council strongly disapproves of And whereas such certificates others: medical practitioners associating themselves with include, among8t medical aid associations which sytematically practise CERTIFICATES: canvassing and advertising for the purpose of pro- (a) Under any statute relating to births, deaths or curing patients." (JXone 6th, 1899.) disposal of the dead. (2) " Whereas it has from time to time been made (b) Under the Lunacy Acts. to appear to the General Medical Council that some (c) Under the Vaccination Acts. registered medical practitioners have, with-a view to (d) Under the Factory Acts. their own gain and to the detriment of other prac- (e) In relation to children or to excusing school titioners, been in the habit of issuing or sanctioning attendance. the issue of advertisements of an objectionable (f) In connexion with sick benefit, insurance and character, or of employing or sanctioning the employ- friendly societies. ment of agents or canvassers, for the purpose of pro- (g) In connexion with workmen's compensation. curing persons to become their patients: And whereas' (h) In connexion with naval or merchant shipping. in the opinion of the Council such practices are con- (i) For procuring the issue of Foreign Office passports. trary to the public interest and discreditable to the (j) For excusing attendance in courts of justice, in the profession of medicine: The Council hereby gives public services, in public offices, or at ordinary notice that any registered medical practitioner resort- employments. ing to such practices thereby renders himself liable to be charged under the 29th Section of the Medical Act, And whereas it has been made to appear to the General with ' infamous in Council from time to time that some registered medical 1858, conduct a professional practitioners have given and signed untrue, misleading, or respect,' and if after due inquiry he is judged by the improper certificates of the above specified or other Council to have been guilty of such conduct the descriptions. Council may, if it sees flt, direct his name to be Now, therefore, the General Medical Council hereby erased from the Medical Regi8ter." (December 1st, give notice that any registered medical practitioner who 1905.) shall be shown to have given any untrue,