Editorial May 30, 1901 Issue

Doctors Need not Go

Editor

"The Supreme Court of Indiana has decided that a licensed practising physician is not legally bound to attend any patient for whom he is called, although he may have served as family physician for the sick person's family in the past, and he is not liable for damages for refusing to answer calls.

"The case came up from Montgomery County, where Dr. George Weddingfield refused to attend the wife of George D. Hurley, although called three times, the last time by a preacher, who offered to pay the fees in advance. It was charged that the woman's death was due to the lack of a physician's aid, and the doctor was sued for $10,000 damages."

The above is a clipping from a late number of the Boston Herald. Since it is now illegal, according to state enactment, for any but licensed physicians to ask or receive compensation for relieving the sick in Indiana, and since the Supreme Court of that state has decided that a physician need not attend a patient unless he so desires, it is pertinent to inquire what provision the state intends to make for those patients who, for any cause, cannot procure the services of a licensed physician?

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