Article January 1, 1903 Issue

Against Paternalism

with contributions from Mark Hopkins

Lexington (Mc.) Intelligencer

Much as an improved standard of medical education is to be desired, anything in the way of restrictive legislation to this end savors both of protecting people against their own voluntary acts and of fostering monopoly. Upon either count it is to be looked upon with suspicion.

There would seem to be no objection to the state treating physicians as it treats banks, if public welfare requires it. The state requires banks to give all proper publicity to their condition, capitalization, assets, liabilities, and responsible officers. It forces a bank out of business only when its further continuance would constitute deceit and a fraud upon the public.

It would be difficult to devise an argument for state restrictions upon physicians who care for men's bodies, that might not be urged with equal force in favor of state restrictions upon preachers and priests who care for men's souls. The historical argument is as strong for the one as for the other; or rather it is as strong against the one as against the other. The state physicians of the Pharaohs were as much instruments of oppression and despotism as were the priests.
From Editorial in Lexington (Mc.) Intelligencer.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Power for the World's Work