Regular Meeting, January 10, 1953 3
hope and expect that we will be able to serve the legislature again and regain the prestige, which, we understand, was lost some years back.
We are trying to improve our judiciary relations. We have fared very poorly when it comes to the Bench, but we are trying to improve this.
Medical Defense. That is something we never know. For example, in '51 we had one important case. This had gone through the courts and the judge had rendered a verdict for the defendant and they appealed the case and Superior Court determined it should go back to trial. Without going into detail, this was a suit for $52,500.00. In the time of this procedure the physician had permitted his policy to lapse for a total of maybe less than 15 days. As far as the State Association is concerned we provided only assistance council to the counsel for the physician. To make a long story short, we had the jury trial and we were successful in that circumstantial case to receive an 11 to 12 vote for the defendant from the jury trial. Our central office works very closely with the attorney for the insurance carriers. Lloyd's is still in here, but they are practically all represented by one legal firm, and particularly Blaine-Schimmel. We render service of every description whenever the call comes, so long as it is a member of ours and provide the necessary contacts either to have the case withdrawn or a financial settlement made, which avoids trial.
There are your two top subjects, and next is your Professional Board. "You may or may not be acquainted with our Seminar program. Two doctors from Utah who spent 3 or 4 days in the Northern Circuit and then we are running a southern Seminar which will probably include Coolidge, Casa Grande, Florence, Douglas and Bisbee, and even Yuma. We anticipate another central one in the Spring. I believe these are being well received in the rural areas and along with it we try and arrange a consultation period which is appreciated by many of the physicians.
Publication Committee. Arizona Medicine Journal, which you receive as part of your dues. The cost of that publication does not involve any outgo on the part of the organization. True, the income of advertising is the source of McMeekin's income.
Scientific Assembly Committee and the Annual Meeting. There is almost big business proposition in itself. In arranging for your exhibits and dealing with your pharmaceutical companies, I believe the revenue we receive from our exhibits covers the expenditures in the main. We received in round figures something like $6800.00 in revenue last year from exhibit fees. There is a $5.00 registration charge from each member, and of course, the $6.50 per head for the President's dinner dance.
Public Relations. This starts with your first telephone call in the morning. You doctors do more good in that field than any of us can achieve; however, we are working constantly with the Press and are trying to improve in a dignified matter what we hear so much talked about that has been lost--the patient-physician relationship.
Grievance Committee. Our load has been dwindling. We give the local society the first opportunity to assume jurisdiction of any case, but if they do not wish to handle it, then we will do so.
Then we have just a little additional job--the Arizona Advisory Committee to the Selective Service System, which is just starting.
I think maybe and undoubtedly you will have some questions. That is hitting the high spots of your operation and it does not include the mass of detail which we handle everyday from every source, local, medical organizations in other states, and on a national level. As to your own staff, I can only say this--membership operation is the most difficult I have experienced in my career. It is very dissatisfying to me because I cannot just set before you at the end of a year a profit and loss statement in dollars and cents of what we have been able to achieve. We make nothing, sell nothing, but it is
