Remarks on the state medicine qualification : read in the Section of Public Medicine at the meeting of the British Medical Association, August 1873 / by Henry W. Rumsey.

  • Rumsey, Henry Wyldbore, 1809-1876.
Date:
1873
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the state medicine qualification : read in the Section of Public Medicine at the meeting of the British Medical Association, August 1873 / by Henry W. Rumsey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    An amendment hostile to the report, and manifesting singular ignorance of the legal facts and bearings of the case, was de- feated by a very large majority. The Committee, perhaps wisely, did not pursue their victory; and there can be no doubt that, since that time, the Council has flagged in attention to the subject, for it was scarcely alluded to in the sessions of 1871 and 1872. It is satisfactory, however, to know that my much valued friend, Dr. Stokes, succeeded during the session of this year in carrying a motion strongly confirmatory, and, indeed, in advance, of the resolution adopted by the Council in 1869. The main resolution, moved by Dr. Stokes and seconded by Mr. Quain, was as follows :— That it is expedient that, under any future legislation, power should be granted to the Council to register a Qualification in State Medicine, after such qualification has been granted according to regulations ap- proved by the General Medical Council. State Medicine, therefore, now stands prominently forward among the items for inclusion in any Medical Acts Amendment Bill. It has more than once been submitted to the Privy Coun- cil for that purpose. The Lord President of the Council has repeatedly and plainly intimated that no future measure of me- dical reform would be likely to obtain the support of Govern- ment which does not cover all the ground of proposed legis- lation. I do not see, therefore, how we can avoid some decision on the question, and the preparation of some measure for ano- ther Session. After the reading of this paper, I believe it will be proposed to appoint a Committee to consider certain clauses relating to the State Medicine qualification ; and I mean to lay before that Committee the proceedings and reports of the State Medicine Committee of the General Medical Council. In the meantime, I beg to call attention to some considerations bearing alike on the principles and on the details of the measure which I may re- commend for your adoption ; and in so doing I may touch on questions affecting the general course of medical education. I. The promoters of the State Medicine Qualification assert that a higher and more special standard of attainments is neces- sary for many public medical offices than has been or can be, with due regard to the exigencies of the community, required of all who enter the profession ; and that it would be a hopeless fallacy to endeavour to include such higher and more special