Regular Meeting
December 9, 1952
The meeting was called to order at 8: P.M. by the President, Dr. H.D. Cogswell.
Doctors F.J. Lesemann, Leo J. Kent and Harold J. Rowe were appointed by the President to act as Tellers to count the ballots for the election of officers.
Minutes of the regular meeting of November 11th, 1952, and of the Board of Directors meeting of December 1, 1952, were read by the Secretary. There being no additions or corrections, they were approved as read.
The Secretary read a letter from Dr. Hugh C. Thompson, chairman of the Committee for Comstock Hospital, stating that a rotating service of pediatricians and chest specialists has been arranged for, and that, as needed, other members of the Society will be requested to serve as consultants, without fee, for the children on tuberculosis service at that Hospital.
Letter from Hughes Aircraft Company concerning "take home" drugs which are added to the hospital bills of patients covered by group insurance at the plant and requesting the cooperation of the Society in an attempt to control such charges was read by the Secretary. The President asked for comments, and none were made.
Minutes of the Professional Board meeting of October 19, 1952, relative to "Arizona Pharmaceutical Association--Mutual Problems" were read by the Secretary. He stated that he has been invited by the local pharmacists to attend a meeting on this subject on December 11th, and asked if there were any suggestions from the floor which he might take along to this meeting. The President stated that he had been asked to attend this meeting, but could not do so, and invited suggestions from the members. Dr. McFayden stated that he knew of one druggist who had refilled 4 oz. of Paraldehyde six times in four days without letting him know about it. Dr. Cogswell said that he knew of some of the pharmacists give people "something for a bellyache", which he considers unethical. The question of druggists who advise patent medicines was raised, and answered from the floor that it was understood that problem had been handled twenty years ago and all druggists had agreed not to do it. Dr. Cogswell asked it there were any knowledge of instances of counter-prescribing, and Dr. Hill moved that the Pima County Medical Society go on record as disapproving of druggists who recommend patent medicines. Motion was seconded by Dr. Davis and carried. It was moved by Dr. Carreras that the Pima county Medical Society go on record as disapproving of counter-prescribing. Motion seconded by Dr. Fred Gregg and carried. Dr. King stated that he had an instance of substitution of drugs. Dr. Cogswell remarked that if a prescription is made at night it means that people will have to stop by the doctor's home and pick up the prescription before they can have it filled. Dr. Kosanke asked whether the law does not specifically state that in cases of emergency it can be done if the prescription is in the hands of the druggist within twenty-four hours. He said that this had been gone into with the narcotic men about three years ago, and that they inferred it was never their intent to have a doctor get up at 2 o'clock in the morning to give a patient a prescription or to have him come by the house at that hour when it is on the basis of an emergency; that there is a reasonable amount of time to get the prescription to the pharmacist. Dr. Carreras remarked that the medicine can be sent to the patient's home if the prescription is there waiting for the pharmacist.
