Home & Country Newsletters (Stoney Creek, ON), Summer 1972, page 21

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MODERN MEDICAL DILEMMAS Dr. Watson, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, who has served with the armed forces in Hong Kong, Nairobi and Kenya and has done research in hospitals in London, England and Washington, D.C., expressed ap- preciation for the Opportunity to share some of the problems of the medical profession with this group of 700 Women. “Doctors are often accused of not communicating. but this. for him, was a prime chance to counter that accu- sation," the speaker said. “Doctors. along with other people find themselves on the horns of a dilemma, or perhaps it should be the horns of a stag, since a stag has fourteen points. be- cause there are so many choices that one can make." Dr. Watson quoted from the book, “Future Shock" written by Eric Tofller. who said. “the multiplicity of choices leads to mental dis- integration.” What are some of these choices that have to be made? Is Health Care a Right or a Privi- lege? How much Health Care is a Right and when does the Right become a Privilege? When Health Care was introduced in England it became an enormous burden on the tax- payers. [t is well known that obesity, smoking and alcohol are health hazards. Should the govern» ment introduce legislation to control these hazards or should it be left to intelligent people to decide for themselves? How many doctors should there be accord- ing to the population of an area? In Uganda they have one doctor for 80,000 people; in Russia ab0ut 250 doctors for about 100.000; in Canada the percentage is much higher and we are concerned that there are not enough per capita. Medical Schools face an enormous decision. said the Doctor. since they usually can select only about 85 students from among 850 appli- cants. He suggested that perhaps medical stu- dents are being overtrained and should not have to spend so long in medical school. [5 all the medical research being carried on really necessary and should priorities for re- search be set? For instance. the cause of ven- ereal disease is known and the cure is known- It is a moral problem; does it still need funds for research? Doctors have the problem of decisions re- garding treatment for certain accident victims fatally injured and certain old persnns for whom there is no future. or the badly brain damaged child. A doctor may be faced with the knowledge SUMMER 1972 Dr. W. C. Watson, guest speaker. that there are incompetent physiiiltlnhl \x’lmt should he do? Concluding. Dr. Watson said. “With our knowledge we must do everything we can to prevent medical tragedies and to relieve sufl'crâ€" ing. A doctor must he imbued with the l‘ll'lllv eiples of preventive medicine but not with such scientific expertise that he targets to care lor the sick. We live in an owning age and must realize that the young people growing up now are better educated and more critical. \0 we hope that with their enthusiasm. uisdom and sense of social justice some ot the diâ€" lemmas will be resolved." An interesting feature oi the closing session of the Conference was musical selections pre- sented by the 100 voice choir trained by Mrs. Maltby. Mrs. Gordon Mallion ol Simcoe Area exe pressed the thanks of the delegates [or the privilege of having a part in the interesting and thoughtAprovoking 34 Olliech Canter; ence. Mrs. Robert Weber. Conlcrcncc Secretary Treasurer reported the following; There had been 826 applications to attend the 1972 ()l’li- cers’ Conference. with about 700 delegates to:- luully registering. There were 2| Discussion Group Leaders: 400 women took part in the walking tour of the campus and 454 visited the Adelaide Hoodless Homestead. Mrs. Weber urged prompt suhmission of ex- pense accounts. 1' i * THE INTERNATIONAL (.ARlM-N UF Pl‘ACF There‘s a garden on the border of our Nations No lovelier spot in the world, Than the place of our friendly relations \Vhere our flags fly together unfurled. Chorus: Oh come. come. come. Come. Come to the garden on the border Oh come to the ardcn of peace. Oh come all ye friends of good order To the International Garden of Peace. 1' 'k 'k 2'!

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