Dr. George
H. Hauser of New Orleans
Wednesday was named presk
] dent-elect of the JLouisiana State
Medical Society.
Society members, attending the 82nd annual meeting here, also selected New Orleans as the 1963 meeting site. Dates will be May 6-8.
Others elected Wednesday were:
Dr. J. T. Willis, Alexandria, first vice-president; Dr. J. P.. ; Weilbaecher, New Orleans, second vice-president; Dr. V. J. Sampognaro, Monroe, third vice-president; and Dr. C. Grenes Cole, New Orleans, re-elected for a five-year term as secretary-treasurer.
Dr. Charles B. Odom, Met-airie, was named chairman of the house of delegates, and Dr. H. H. Hardy Jr., Alexandria, vice-chairman.
Four counsellors were named also. They were Dr. Nicholas J. Chetta, New Orleans, from the First Congressional District; Dr. J. E. Clayton, Norco, re-elected from the Second; Dr. C. E. Boyd, Shreveport, re-elected from the Fourth, and Dr. Henson S, Coon, Monroe, Fifth District.
The society Tuesday condemned President Kennedy's medical care for the aged bill.
The society's president, Dr. C. J. Brown of New Orleans, said the organization regards the measure as pure political medicine.
"It's a political deal and is not necessary," he said.
Dr, Brown charged that a simi lar medical care plan ruined med icine in England and will do so in the United States if passed by Congress.
The Louisiana society Wednesday reaffirmed its position to provide medical care for the aged regardless of . their ability to pay. It also reaffirmed its support of the Kerr-Mills law and its opposition to King-Anderson type legislation.
The Louisiana State Medical Society resolution unanimously passed, said in part: ' "Whereas physicians of the Louisiana State Medical Society, guided by profession standards and under America's free enterprise system, are now providing good medical care for all of its citizens, and "whereas the King-Anderson bill, or similar type legislation seeking to place! medcal care for the aged under!
social security taxation, would impose a tremendous payroll tax increase, would be compulsory; would open the door to inefficiencies and defects inevitable in the administration of welfare programs administered by the federal government; would result in politically controlled medicine of decreased quality; would finance medical care for some aged regardless of need, while denying it to others in real need; would injure the patient-physician relationship; and "whereas mandatory vendor (third party) payment to physicians for medical
services will result in government controlled medicine (socialized medicine); and "whereas with politically controlled medicine history proves that the patient and the physician no longer determine the quality or quantity of medical care; and
"Whereas King-Anderson type medical care is socialized medicine capable of indefinite expansion to cover the entire population; and "whereas physieans of Louisiana love their country and are dedicated to the preservation of this nation as a republic governed by our constitution and (bill of rights . . ."
"Resolved, that the Louisiana State Medical Society is opposed to the socialization of any segment of our people; that we as individuals will not participate in any programs of this type and! that we as individuals pledge to give our help to others in their fight against socialism.
PHOTO: LOUISIANA MEDICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS elected at Monroe Wednesday are Dr. George H. Hauser, New Orleans, left, president elect, and Dr. Ralph Eiggs, Shreveport, center, president. At the right is Dr. C. J. Brown, New Orleans, past president.
