the prerogative of the Board of Censors to make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. If you insist, we will make a recommendation tonight.
Dr. Harry Thompson--I do not insist, but wondered if this had been looked into from a legal standpoint.
Dr. Steen--Dr. Lieberman called and asked for an application blank. Because we did not expedite it for a few days, an attorney called me, and said "Will you either send Dr. Lieberman an application blank, or will you send it to me?"
Dr. Hastings--Our committee did not know this, and I think we should have.
Dr. Hayden then read Article VII of the Constitution, page 6 and 7, referable to application for membership.
Dr. Hastings--The recommendation of the Board of Censors is, then, that Dr. A.L. Lieberman be not accepted for term membership at this time.
Dr. Hayden--I might interject here that Dr. Fonseca told me that Dr. Lieberman called him the other day and told him that he expected action would be taken this coming Tuesday night and that the only reason the State Grievance Committee upheld our decision, the only thing they objected to was that he did not call in a consultant on the nerve blocks.
Dr. Harry Thompson--The only thought I had was that if your Board of Censors holds up the application pending the action of the Medical Examiners then he perhaps will have the right to take action against the Society that they are trying to take away his license. My only suggestion is that we talk with B.G. Thompson and see if we are responsible.
Dr. Hastings--It is my understanding that no matter who applies for membership in this Society, it is the job of the Board of Censors to decide and make recommendations to the Society.
Dr. Harry Thompson--Suppose they say "Why did you hold this up?"
Dr. Hastings--I don't think anybody has the right to ask that. The Board of Censors is now reporting to the Board of Directors that it would be advisable not to consider this application at this time.
Dr. Steen--Unless something new is incorporated in the By-Laws, this is a matter between the Board of Censors and the Society.
Dr. Hastings--Do not all applications clear through the Board of Directors?
Dr. Steen--No, and that is why I bring this up. We can discuss and make our recommendations as we wish, but it has to be cleared through the Society.
Dr. Beaton--He (Dr. Lieberman) will say, "If not at this time, how soon can I reapply?"
Dr. Steen--I now have a note on my desk from Dr. Lieberman, asking me to call him.
Dr. Hastings--We feel that the State Board is acting on recommendation of the State Council requesting this be reviewed by them, and if there is any question in the minds of the State Board about his qualifications or ethics, or whatever you want, they are duty bound to act on whether he should practice in this State. We felt if there was to be any question of his license to practice we would not want him to be a member. We want them to make up their minds, and they cannot tell until after we have transmitted the material to them.
Dr. Hill--Does a man have any recourse against the Society if he has a license to practice in this State?
Dr. Harry Thompson--He would have, because we got him out of the hospitals.
Dr. Hastings--The State Society has not complied with the directions of Council. It has not transmitted the matter to the Board of Medical Examiners and it can't until we are able to furnish them with the data.
Dr. Harry Thompson--Would it be too much out of line to ask B.G. Thompson whether this is out of line?
Dr. Hastings--Not a bit.
Dr. Bernstein--this is clear in the By-Laws. Read them.
Dr. Manning--Obviously we cannot do anything about his membership this month. I do not think you have to tell the Society anything.
Dr. Bernstein--He has neither been accepted nor rejected.
