Third report from the Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law amendment : together with the minutes of evidence and appendix.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law Amendment.
Date:
1848
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Third report from the Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law amendment : together with the minutes of evidence and appendix. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    aware of the minutiae. I am told that the date is 1684 ; the ratification by R. Chriatison, Esq., Parliament was in 1685. M*D* 1465. But you state that the privilege which the College claims with respect to the right of that College to practise within the boundary of their own town 9 Ma^ l848, is obsolete ?— Quite obsolete. 1466. Mr. H'akley.] You say that the privilege has been in a state of desuetude for at least a century?—Yes. 1467. Is there any clashing of interests between the graduates of the Uni- versity and the members of the College of Physicians of Edinburgh?—There would be, if the College exerted its privilege. 1468. Then, in consequence of the College not exercising this privilege, there is no clashing of interests between the two bodies? —None whatever. 1469 '1 he graduates of the University in Medicine being allowed to practise in the old town of Edinburgh ?—Yres. 1470. Does the right to practise of the members of the College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the graduates in medicine of the University of Edinburgh extend throughout Scotland ?—Not of the members of the College of Physicians, because the College ot Physicians have no jurisdiction whatever beyond the walls of the ancient city. 1471. No power beyond those limits ?—No privilege. 1472. dhev exercise no power over the members of their own body beyond those limits ; if a member of their own body should choose to practise beyond the boundary of the old town, could they exercise over that member any power whatever?—Yes, they exercise power over the members of their own body even practising in England. 1973. What is the power that they exercise over the members of their own body practising in this country?—They have the power of censure, and they have exercised the power of suspension ; we believe that we have even the power of expulsion, but the power of censure and of suspension has been exercised. 1474. Of late years?—At no very distant date; the celebrated Dr. Gregory was suspended. 1475. Has there any case occurred since then, do you remember?—No, there has not; there have recently been proceedings which contemplated the possibility of suspension, but it has never become necessary in any of those instances. 1476. Chairman.] That power of suspension, beyond the mere moral effect it may have, does not deprive the party of any privilege, except that of practising within the proper limits embraced by the privileges of the College of Physicians, and then you never enforce your privileges within that district?—It would have this effect; that during suspension, I apprehend a non-resident fellow, for example, could not use his title in any publication; if he did so, the College would then publish the fact of his having been suspended. 1477. Sir R. H. Ir/glis.] Is there any instance of the College having, when it had suspended a physician from his functions, noticed his retaining the title of his degree?—Not that I am aware of. The College certainly cannot prevent him from using his university degree. 1478. And that was not done in the case of Dr, Gregory ?—I do not think it was. 1479. Chairman•] Will you state the jurisdiction of the College of Surgeons? —4 he College of Surgeons has jurisdiction over eight counties. 1480. Exclusive privilege rather, is it not?—Exclusive privilege over eight counties as surgeons and apothecaries. 1481. Which are those?—The three Lothians, Berwickshire, Peebleshire, Selkirk, Roxburgh and Fife. 1482. Are the privileges of the College of Surgeons within that extensive district practically enforced ?—No. 1483. Are they practically enforced within any part of the district, within Edinburgh, for instance?—No. 1484. To your knowledge, they are not practically enforced within all or any part of the district?—They are not, and have not been for a very long time. 1485. They exist rather in theory then, and not in practice?—For along time it has been so. 1486. How do the College of Surgeons license for practice; who are the parties licensed to practise in the College of Surgeons ; their own members of 702. a 2 course}