Medical Society to do something. The County Hospital Clinic does not function as a Detection center.
Dr. Manning--Anyone has a right to go down there and be examined for Cancer.
Dr. Hirsch--I think you ought to have a different committee to study this. As I pointed out, this committee is constituted of one surgeon, 2 pathologists and 3 X-ray men. The people who go to a Detection Center get a complete examination, which is what you get from an Internist. I do not think the present committee members are the right ones to take recommendations.
Dr. Manning--I will do everything I can to stay out of a Detection Center.
Dr. Hirsch--On the other hand, do you not think something should be done to assure people that something is being done?
Dr. Manning--It seems to me that if you admit a Detection Center is needed, you are admitting that the general men are no good.
Dr. Hirsch--We do not know that some doctors do not give the patient a good physical examinations, and for some reason people think if they go to a special clinic they will get a better job. Perhaps we could have a form for the doctor to fill out, giving the results of various examinations, give the patient a copy of it.
Dr. Steen--What are we going to do when they get a committee to tell us how do heart examinations?
Dr. Hirsch--Each organization should police itself.
Dr. Manning--The problem we have is what are we going to do with the National Cancer Society drive? They want to establish this week, and we have to get it settled.
Dr. Harry Thompson--We have a stop-gap on which we can enlarge. Tell them we have a Tumor Clinic which is in operation and we are formulating plans for enlargement.
Dr. Manning--Dr. Hirsch, will you give me some suggestions as to enlarging the Cancer Committee? I told Mrs. Schnell that you would meet with them again and point out why we are against a Detection Center. Also, the Osteopaths are having a State Meeting here next month, and have, through their national office, contacted the Movie Center because they want the film on how to examine breasts for this meeting. Mrs. Schnell said she wanted us, as a body, to back her up because the local Cancer Society does not want the Osteopaths to have this film.
Dr. Kent--As far as the public is concerned, if it is discovered that this Society is not cooperating, a big thing will be made of it.
Dr. Hirsch--The second part of this report about proposed publicity on proven cases of cancer--the reaction of the committee was not in favor of this.
Dr. Manning--When new appointments are made, the committee can work on this aspect.
Dr. Bean--You would also run up against the problem of paid doctors working at County Hospital, if it should be decided to have a Detection Center or Clinic there.
Dr. Manning--It seems to me if the committee could get together with Mrs. Schnell's group we could get a little light without going on record about anything.
Dr. Harry Thompson--Moved that the report of the Cancer Committee be approved, and that it is pointed out to those interested that we have a Tumor Clinic which functions as a Detections Center, that the Society is in favor of the idea and through its committee will continue along those lines; but that it is known by bitter experience that it can only be handled in the way it is being handled, the present setup being such that a Detection Center cannot be considered at this time. Motion seconded by Dr. Kent and carried.
Dr. Manning reported for the Building Committee, stating that the committee appointed by Supervisors has been meeting twice a month, and that all investigations up to date have been read and approved by the Hospital Building Committee and will be presented to the Committee on Tax Study for the Chamber of Commerce a week from tomorrow; that, at the same time, a copy of the report will be given each newspaper with the hope that interest may be taken in the hospital needs for Tucson, and then a upplemental [ supplemental ] report on recommendations as to how to get the hospital.
