The Bartlett Tribune and News (Bartlett, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 17, Ed. 1, Friday, March 4, 1949 Page: 3 of 8
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THE SAlrtLBTiP TRIBUNE Friday March 4 1949
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HEALTH FREEDOM vs MEDICAL MONOPOLY
THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH CONCERNS FAR MORE THAN. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS HEALINti
PROFESSIONS . ... IT VITALLY CONCERNS ONE OF YOUR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS A CITIZEN OF TEXAS .... THAT IS . .
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The Right to the Services of the Doctor pf Your Choice
read What leading newspapers say About this question belowi
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ITT. WOFtTH St AR TELEGRAM ; ;
' l PEBUCAKY 0 1049
liETS GET THE itKCQItD STRAIGHT
REGARDING OUR MEDIOAIi LAWS
Dr. Tate lllller ot Dallas president of the State Medical Association of Texas
mado some statements in a radio broadcast from Austin tho other day which ara
Apt to confuse the publlo mind regarding tho medical lairs ot Texas.
Perhaps unintentionally Dr. Miller cast an Unfair and wholly unwarranted
reflection on tho State Board of Medical Examlnors.
Dr. Miiior was speaking In favor of the so-called minimum standards bill now
vending; In the Legislature Thjs bill Is an oldtlmor dresaed'up with a new name:
It Is tho 1949 version of the baste science bill which a segment ot the organized
medical profession has been trying for several years to foist upon tho people of
Texas.
It Is A bill which whether so Intended or not would in tlmo give the medical
profession amonopoly on the practice ot tho healing arts In Texas. Previous ses-
sions of the Legislature' have refused to pass tho bill. There Is no reason to be-
lons of the Legislature 'have refused tto pass the 1)111. There Is no reason to be-Neve-
that tho presunt session will pass it. either. But since It may bocome a
toplo of public discussion. It would be well at the outset to get the record straight.
In response to & question askod by his radio interviewer Dr. Miller declalred
that uadef the laws .of Toxaa. sick persons have no lc-gnl guaranty that the prad- '
tltloncr to whom they go for treatment Js nuaUtled. (
That statement Is simply not true as anyone familiar with 'the medical laws
of Texas knows We are astounded that anyone in Dr. Miller's position In the medi-
cal profession would make such a statement and In fairness to him we assume that
he merely road It from a radio script which had been written by someone. un
familiar with ouc medical laws and which Dr. Miller had not read before going on
tho air.
"" The truth Of tho matter Is that no onp may legally practice tho healing arts
In Texas who has not previously passed an 'examination and boon llconsod by tho .
State Board of Medical Examiners to practice in this state.
' If any patient or patron of any physician In Texas Is the least bit doubtful
an 'to- tho physician's qualifications and legal right to practice has but 'to ask to'
ece tho physician's license. If he has a license Issued by the State Hoard ot Medical
Examiners one may be-certain ho Is qualified and has a -full legal right to practice)
v la this stato.
At another point Ih his broadcast Dr. Miller made tho statement that the
minimum sandards bill "wllll help to abolish Ignorance from the sick room" by
requiring all practitioners 'before they are licensed to pass an examination in
oven basic scloncos: anatomy physiology chemistry bacteriology pathology
hygiene an.d public health.
Here again Is displayed Ignorance ot our meldcal -laws. A full understanding
ot each of these sciences cortalnly should-be a fundamental requirement of all
applicants for licenses to practice In Texas The point is that our modlcal laws
already require jusl that.
Hero Is what tho present law which has been In effect since 1907
says on the subject of medical licenses and examinations: "All applicants for
licenses to practice medlclno In this stato must successfully pass an examination
before the Board ot Medical examiners. Examinations' shall be condutcd on
anatomy physiology chemistry histology pathology bacteriology diagnosis
surgery obstetrics gynecology hygiene and medical Jurisprudence'1
According to Dr. Miller the proposed 'minimum standards law would require
examinations In only seven subjects. It should be noted that the present law not
only requires examinations In the very. same subjects but In five additional
jsubjecta as well. "
' We are 'unable tb seo howellmJnatlon of the requlrsmont lhat examinations
bo given In histology diagnosis surwry. obstetrics and medical Jurisprudence
would as Dr. Miller claims "help to abolish lgnoranco from the sick room."
The. State Board ot Modlcal Examiners composed of 12 reputable practicing
physician's of Texas Appointed by the governor and approved by the Stato Senate
physicians whose Intpgrlty has never before been questioned now gives exami-
nations In all 12 of the subjects which have been specified In the law for 42 years.
Wo bolleve the members of this board discharge their duties fairly Impar-
tially ahd conscientiously. There Is no evidence to Indicate that the present or any
previous mombors. of the board have ever granted any applicant a license-to
practice who had not previously passed examinations In each and every one of
tho required 'subjects
. "Because of tho splendid record ot this board And-the confidence which the
people of Texas have In It we say that Dr Milter's asaortton that tho sick have no
legal guaranty that the physician treating them Is qualified .to do so Is an unfair
and wholly-unwarranted reflection on this board which Dr Miller should publicly'
retract. . -v '
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AUSTIN STATESMAN
February 13 1919
LAWMAKER USES SHARP PEN ON BILL
OF MEDIdAL GROUP
By FRED WILMASIS
What Is known as the basic sclenco bill Is due to churn up lots
it pro and con discussion this session If straws In the wind mean any" "
thing. The bill Is being sponsored by tho medical profession and has
as Its avowed purpose legislation to supervise practices among
chiropractors.
Representative A. Robin Henderson of Oroeabeck Is one legis-
lator who Is hot under the collar about It. In fact so hot that this
Week he took pen In harid and made some stinging remarks against
what he termed was a campaign ot slander now being carried on
by the MD'i of Texas. ' v
In A Is attack on he bill ho'clalmod that Its1 sole purpose "is to
outlaw every osteopath and chiropractor. In Texaa.'
Henderson thinks that boards are necessary to roteroo practices.
But ho goes a step further. "I favor a seperate board for chlropract-
ors and naturopaths. There Is no reason why the ostoopaths should
have a seperate board because they are 'already duly and legally
licensed physicians.
"Thore Is only one medical examining board In this state anil
It Is stacked with medical doctors in violation of the stato constitu-
tion which' says no one branch of the healing arts shall havo a
majority of members of thejsoard."
"Hrfhders'o'n says that not all MD's by a long shot 'refuso to
consult with osteopaths About a sick person. But ho says many
doctors refuse to practice or contoro with ostoopaths In consulta-
tions over the sick and further charges that In most hospitals owned
and controlled by a medical doctor that an osteopath la refused per-
mission to treat a patient. '
' Henderson an Insurance man when not engaged In law-
making says: '.'The doctors have brought pressure to bear on many
of the lite Insurance companies not to accept a medical examination
from an osteopath physician"
Tho Oroesbock legislator makes It plain that he's against
socialized medlclno. "I think every person has a legal and moral
right to use the doctor of his choice. But this medical association
has kept the legislature from setting up a board for the chiro-
practors all these yoars whon under the prosont law any person
without' one day In school is allowed to practice this profession."
Henderson says there's no doubt In his mind about ther0 being
a place for chiropractors in Texas and that this opinion Is shared by
many people from all walks of life. "I shall vote to give the chiro-
practors a board of tholr own so that after proper training and four
years in school they can practice."
He sounded one warning "There Is one euro thing tho peoplo
ot this. state especially tho poorer classes are being neglected for
tho want of doctors and trained nurses. If tho doctors do not' stop
their' war on the -other healing arts they will bring socialized
medicine on themselves.
"I also charge that the medical association has blocked tho
enlargement of our medical schools. I am serving my third torm In
the House and I. have had one medical doctor to ask me about
taxes farm-lo-market roads qr aid for old people. Tho only matter
they have ever discussed with me Is tor a closed shop thus outlaw-
ing all competition."
AUSTIN STATESMAN -'i '(..
' " February 15 1049 "' ' - '
MEDICAL PROFESSION IN POOR CASE
TRYING TO ERECT TEXAS MONOPOLY
By R. O. ZOLLINGER
Many and diverse are tho assaults upon the freedom of the Individual to
accopt or reject. Groups vie with each other and othor groups in efforts to got
laws passod against them and their activities.
The National Association of Manufacturers loOks with Jaundiced oyo upon
organized labor and tries to remodel it via the Taft-Hartley bill In ltii own pat-
torn. Some leaders ot organized labor would like to force management to glvo
them a part In policy while forcing; management to accept all the risks of tho
operation.
Eastern manufacturers selling goods In Texas try term after torm ot tho Tox.
as legislature to get what they call a "fair" trade law passed to enable them to dto-
tato tho price to Texas retailors for which their wares may be sold by-passing tho
Texnuyantl-trujit laws In tho constant effort to get more of tho Texas "tako"
by limiting competition.
In a. score of lines monopoly Is attempting to Invest Itself In the robes ot
economla and professional virtue.
Free enterprise has been taking a beating In this land ot tho brave and tho
home of tho free. The movement spreads to making It compulsory for Individuals
and groups to do what other Individuals and groups demand they do
Tho rugged Individual who defies these efforts to regiment his mind and Ilia
actions automatically Is condemned as a radical who Is dangerous to bo allowed
at large. Most In these groups say they thoroughly believe In competition but
whon the competition sots stiff they rush to Congross or tho Legislature and do-
mand a law to get the publlo "protocted" by outlawing the competitor. It's all
very dlzsy and dangerous.
The Toxaa medical profession currently Is attempting to put those In other
profession; ot healing out of business. Its policy makers will deny thlsi but tbo
tacts speak for themselves.
Medlclno has made a splendid contribution to Buttering humanity. Its rolls
are filled with men who have dedicated themselves In service to human well-being
and welfare. Many have sacrificed their lives to their zeaL In .behalf of mankind.
All honors to thorn. ""
But this In no way should bo taken as endowing the medical profession with
dlvlm) right or of legitimizing the efforts by somo ot tho profosslon to achlovo
a monopoly In the arts of healing
Tho basic science bill sponsored by tho Texas and American Modlcal Amho-
clatlon now before the Texas legislature would give medicine as one of tho
arts of healing tho power to force othor practitioners out of business.
For years the profession has attempted to prevent the practice ot chlroptactlc
osteopathy and naturopathy by one device or another. It has attempted to forco
all other practitioners to this point of view and method which would automatically
frooze all healing methods and processes to the standards of '-he medical prolan-
slon historically resistant ot most advances even with the profession. Ita method
ot determining tho tit and unfit Is to place it in Irrevocable charge of examinations
Though at least one official says that each profession would be allowed to
set Jts own standards the 'board would bo made up of medical men serving) pro-
fessorships in medical schools.
Standards of tho healing arts should bo high but they should not bo Intol-
orant. To forco a chiropractor or osteopath or naturopath to b a medical man
amounts to making It impossible for htm to practice his profession. He becomes
the captive of regimenting inhibiting and prejudlcal forces..
To forco the chiropractor the osteopath and the naturopath to accept qual-
ifications laid down by ho medical policy makers In tho apparent effort t. put
him out ot business would be like forcing a painter to become skilled In laying
shlnfles or a plumber to become a carpenter or a bricklayer to becomo a paper'
hanger as a prerequisite to obtaining a ui loncard.
Should tho situation be reversed and other branchos ot the healing orta at-
tempt by law to force their theories upon the medical profession with power to
prevent Its members from practicing their own profession. It would be Just as
reprehensible. But they don't have tho political power for that and tho medical
UHaoclatlon do. That Is what makes any such law as this so danger-ous.
THIS QUESTION IS NOT NEW! READ WHAT TEXAS NEWSPAPERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT IN 1947!
EL PASO TIMES' ' DALLAS TIMES HERALD ABILENE REPORTER NEWS
May 14 1047 . - '
vnY ANOTHER BOARD? .
Tho more wo go Into the so-called Basic Science Bill that Is pending beforo'
M the Texas eonate the' more wo become convinced of Us undeslrablllty at' least 'in
its'prasent form. . "... ...
Let's examine the facta: .'"..'
Tho proposed legislation was sponsored by the Toxaa State Medical Associa-
tion. Thero had .been no public clamor foe It. Tho people seomed. content .to go
along as they were. ''.'
Y' ' The lopsided vote tn the House on the bill would suggest that many members
of the House had 'been pledged In advance to vote for' It. That meant 'the oppo- .
nnta ot the bill did not have a fair hearing.
Thore Is reason to question the motives of tho medical profession In sponsor-
ing such legislation. That profession should put Us' own house in order before
trying to protect the publlo against chiropractors' osteopaths or naturopaths.
1 Even within the medical pro(o3slpnthe.lnriavator.-andexperlmentor Is often
unable to overcome the opposition of his elde'rs Ina profession notably consorva-
' Hive. Look what happened to Slator ICenney. . .
'In Texas If the Basic Science Bill becomes law It will bo necessary for
graduates of medical schools to take two examinations basic science and medical.
That la" ridiculous.
' Nolther M D.'s nor others engaged In the healing art should bo required to
tako two examinations. All should be. carefully licensed and closely regulated
All the Basic Sclenco Law would do'lh reality excefit make It hard on chiro-
practors especially would be-to create another board the State Board of Exam-
iners In Basic Sciences.
May 5 1047
A BILL THAT HARDLY MERITS
"MUST" CLASSIFICATION
' Tho Texas Legislature during tho short period of law-making
to which It Is restricted; has more pressing business of sttfte-wlde
Importance than It can transact yet It must spend a large part ot
. time on bills In which only special groups and elements aro
Interested..' '
The so-called basic science bill Is one 'of several measures ot
this kind which have consumed the time of the current session.-
Theoretically1 at least this bill has merit. It would seem to require
more thorough training of parsons. engaged In the healing ot the
sick.
But. the-.need or this bill cortalnly Is not pressing. No public
clamor for Its enactment has been heard. The public at large Is not
complaining that doctors of the various schools ot healing are
licking tnBklll. In fact the public seema under the Impression that'
Texas doctors of all established schools are competent Tho only
trouble Is that they are not plentiful enough. . . .
But would there-be any discrimination? . . . Would the new
law give any school power to suppress or harass other schools?
These are questions that the legislator should study carefully. . . .
May 4 1047 '
MEDICAL 3IONOPOLY
Somebody should remind tho leadersof the medical profession that as mag-
nltlclent as Its record of service to humanity is as truly great as its contribution to
human well-being and welfare has been It hasn't so great a backlog ot respect and
affection In the minds bf the American people that It can afford to browbeat and
bulldoz Its way to absolute dictatorship over public health In this froo.'
democracy
Currently tho medical profession In Texas Is pushing for passage of a bofclc
science bill which after all Is said nil done would place In the hands ot tho
medical profession the power of life and death over all forma of treatment not
rocognlzod by the medicos.
It this bill becomes law It will givo the medical profession a potential It not
absolute monopoly over all methods of treatment now In voguo.
The loaders of medicine who crlei out against bureaucratic or socialized
medicine do not ecruple to ask the legislature of Texas. "Olvo us complete control
over the health of Texas citizens; give us thg power to say to any Texan. 'You
cannot choose your doctor we'll do It for you'." 't . . .
In recent years every attempt ot chiropractors to name only ono rival method
of treatment for the Ills that afflict humanity to raise the standards of their pro-
fession by creating a license law that would exclude tho charlatans and lll-prei
pared has been beaten down In the Texas legislature. If this1 law should finally
be passed and tlie proposed basic science bll. A ere supsrlmposed upon ita board of
examiners and upon alt other boards of examiners thero would be a type of mo-
nopoly control over the people of Texas that would deny thorn- thq service of any
practitioner save what the medical profession condescended to permit them to
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YOUR INFORMATION THE CHIROPRACTORS OF TEXAS are sponsoring n Bill now pendinjy before the Texas Legislature which Provides ... . &&'
A Board of"9 Chiropractic Examiners composed of GRADUATE Chiropractors with at least 5 years of experience in Texas to be appointed by the Governor with consent of. theSenate
Examination of applicants for license to practice Chiropractic in Texas on 8 subjects which are BASIC to CHIROPRACTIC.
That Chiropractors shall be licensed to practice Chiropractic Only I
Four years of education in a recognized Chiropractic School before the examination for license to practice can be taken!
For tho ENFORCEMENT of the act which will PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS PROM POORLY TRAINED CHIROPRACTORS! Therefore . . . THE BASIC SCIENCE LAW (or Minimum
Standards Law) is UNNECESSARY AND NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST! Furthermore -the Chiropractors have tried for 20 YEARS to get a fair workable ChiropraclicLaw passed in Texas
only tqbti BITTERLY OPPOSED by the TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION which is opposing it this time too! ARE THEY THINKING ONLY OF THE PUBLIC PROTECTION? What dp
YOU THINK? f
BOTH SIDES OF THIS QUESTION HAVE APPEARED IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS . . . Now YOU can decide what you think is best for YOU and YOUR CHILDREN and TELL YOUR
REPRESENTATIVE IN AUSTIN BEFFORE it is TOO LATE.
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Medical Minimum Standards Bill is Senate
; Bill 63 House Bill 103
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Chiropractic Bill is Senate BUI 174 .
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Your representatives are: Senator CARLOS ASHLEY
Senator W. A. (SON) SHOFNER fc 1 Representative NK SVADLENAK
. Representative LAMAR ZIVLEY - Representative WILLIAM R. STUMP
Representative FRANK McGREGOR (Address; Capital btataon Austin la)
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BAkTLETT TEXAS
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Ford, Robert C. & Ford, Nora Mae. The Bartlett Tribune and News (Bartlett, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 17, Ed. 1, Friday, March 4, 1949, newspaper, March 4, 1949; Bartlett, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth81778/m1/3/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bartlett Activities Center and the Historical Society of Bartlett.