Two of the nation's top gynecologists said here Wednesday they do not believe an-Rh negative woman should refuse to marry a man just be^ cause he has Rh positive blood.
Statistics show that less than 10 per cent of such women ever run into trouble, agreed the pair—Dr. Lawrence M. Randall, Rochester, Minn., and Dr. Robert H. Barter, Washington p D. C.
And even when they do, mod-: em medicine has fofimd a definite way of helping their babies, added the gynecologists, both speakers at the New Orleans Graduate Medical Assembly, now in session at the Roosevelt hotel. 4-
Dr. Randall said the question E often arises—"Should a young ^ woman go looking around for a ^ young man with the proper Rh factor before considering matri-imony?" U
Exchange Transfusion ^
"And I say I do not believe tJ this is necessary," added the-£ gynecologist, who is professor of P obstetrics and gynecology at a. the University of Minnesota t3 Mayo Foundation Graduate e School. *
Dr. Barter was in hearty £ agreement. j*
"I think it's much better for -an Rh negative girl to marry an Rh positive nice guy than ante Rh negative heel," said Dr. g Barter, who is executive officer f} of the department of obstetrics # and gynecology at George** Washington University School of Q1 Medicine. ti
Dr. Randall said an infant born of a significantly sensitized fi mother can be aided "by what p: we call an exchange trans- w fusion." M
"In performing this transfu- p sion," the gynecologist, "you take blood from a donor, whose blood is of the proper group and w who is Rh negative, and you hi substitute this blood for the hi blood in the baby's body." v<s Dr. "Randall said that with the ti< aid of this exchange transfusion, "you can* save up to 90 per cent w. of the live-born infants" but ai that "formerly you could save in only about 40 per cent." p\
Dr. Randall said about 88 per ct cent of the white population of p* America is Rh positive and he about 12 per cent are Rh negative, si
.fast .fresidents iionorea
At a general luncheon Wednesday, attendance certificates were presented and past presidents were honored. Dr. John R.;.;'D.eVeiling,. Jackson, Miss., the only out-of-the-city registrant who hasn't missed a meeting, received a 20-year certificate. Recipients of 10-year certificates were: Dr. John M. Filippone, Houston, Tex.; Dr. J. T. Gordon, Lewisburg, Tenn.; Dr.. Wi. B. Hickman, Louisville, Miss.; Dr. A. L. Lewis, Amite; Dr. J. B. Martin Jr., Lake Charles; Dr. Robert C'. Massen-gill, Brookhaven, Miss.; Dr. Harold J. Morris, Pine Bluff, Ark.; Dr. Val L. Puig, Laredo, Tex.; Dr. Clarence B. Sacher, Dallas, Tex.; Dr. Prentiss E. Smith, Hattiesburg, Miss., and Dr. H. B, Witter, Baton Rouge.
The following past presidents were honored: Drs^ Thomas B. Sellers, Emmett L. Irwin, VaJ H. Fuchs, Charles A. Bahn, H. Theodore Simon, Oscar W. Bethea, Joseph S. D'Antoni, Curtis Tyrone, Edwin H. Law-son, Edgar Hull, Charles B. Odom, ^Atiarew'" V. Friedrichs, Woodard p. Beacham, Donovan C. Browne and Eugene H. ^ountiss.
PHOTO: AT WEDNESDAY'S SESSIONS of the New Orleans Graduate Assembly in the Roosevelt hotel, leading roles were played by (from left) Dr. Lawrence M. Randall, Rochester, Minn.; Dr. Andrew V. FriedrichSj New Orleans, a past president of the assembly; Dr. C. Leslie Mitchell, Detroit, Mich*; Dr.Robert H. Barter, Washington, D. C, and Dr. Ralph O. Rychener, Memphis, Tenn. Dr. Friedrichs presided at one of the day's sessions and the other four doctors were featured speakers.
