Board of Directors Meeting, December 7, 1953 3
A letter was received from Dr. Elizabeth Laidlaw, containing suggestions made by the School Medical Committee, to the effect that
1. Doctors be asked to notify the school, the school nurse, or herself, if they have any patients in school with diabetes or epilepsy.
2. Doctors who order "No physical education" or "Modified physical education" give, briefly, their reason for so doing.
3. Written reports be made by all school personnel, including the nurse, of every treatment on a school child.
4. Doctors refuse to treat accident cases covered by the present High School athletic policy.
5. The matter of liability insurance for school nurses be looked into.
Discussion:
Dr. Manning--These suggestions can be read to the group. Dr. Laidlaw called me today referable to Dr. O'Connor, who has refused to do any more eye exams for an indefinite period. This was of concern to her as she felt that if one man withdrew, others might consider the work load too much, and the plan, as far as eye work is concerned, might fail.
Dr. Kent--Dr. O'Connor has been ill on more or less restricted activity.
Dr. Bean--He made this same request at County for the balance of the year.
Dr. Hileman--To what extent are we committed to the School Health Program?
Dr. Manning--We have gone along with this year after year--we take care of these children because they are not eligible to go to County. This came up to the general body to vote to continue on the same basis.
Dr. Steen--These are the medical indigent among the school children. We went on record that we would support it.
Dr. Bernstein--It is only fair that every one who can should support it; otherwise, one man is left doing everything down the line. I believe it is our moral duty to persuade the men not to back out.
Dr. Steen--The Society should do it as a group, or not at all.
Dr. Manning--I will call Dr. Laidlaw and explain that Dr. O'Connor is doing this on account of illness.
Dr. Fraser--Let us refresh the Society on what has been done, and if necessary, it can be voted upon.
Dr. Manning--If we can avoid the issue now, I would like to see it avoided.
Letter was received from Dr. Juan Fonseca, conveying the request of the local Multiple Sclerosis group for appointment of a Medical Advisory Board, which is required for chapter recognition by the National Society.
Discussion:
Dr. Bernstein--I respectfully suggest that we stay out of it. I am not opposed to what they are doing, but where do we come in?
Dr. Rudolph--If you have a committee for one thing, you should have it for every other.
Dr. Costin--Why not do as the Planned Parenthood group does--keep the Society out of it?
Dr. Carreras--What is the purpose of this group, to meet and talk about Multiple Sclerosis?
Dr. Steen--To refuse to appoint advisory committees would, in some respects, be cutting off your head to spite your face. We were the ones who proposed that we spearhead the matter of public health and service. My feeling has been that if it is going to be just a matter of having meetings once a month and a Picnic once a year, without any service to the community, we might as well quit. This was one of the reasons I brought up the matter of getting all these separate groups together, so that many health offices might be
