Special report from the select committee on the Medical Act (1858) amendement (no. 3) bill : together with the proceedings of the committee, minutes of evidence and appendix.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on the Medical Act (1858) Amendment (No. 3) Bill.
Date:
1880
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Special report from the select committee on the Medical Act (1858) amendement (no. 3) bill : together with the proceedings of the committee, 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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    Report, 1879—continued. Medical Council—continued. I. As to the Constitution of the General Medical Council: 1. Present Constitution ; Number of Members, and System of Election : Particulars relative to the constitution of the Medical Council, under the Act of 1858, there being- twenty-three members, besides the president; nomination of six of these by the Crown, whilst eight are University members, and nine are appointed by corporations, Aclantl 5. 7-13 Total of eleven members from England, six from Scotland, and six rom Ireland, ib. 9, 10 Election of the president by the Council, it not being neces- sary that he should be chosen from that body, ib. 14, 15. Very eminent members of the profession who have served on the Council ; names of the different presidents, Acland 117, 118 Great latitude of choice in the election of presidents and members, as it is only the medical corporations that need send registered practitioners, ib. 119, 120. Consideration of the restricted representation of the Scotch Universities in the Council, as compared with Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham ; inability of witness to explain why Edinburgh and Aberdeen Universities were allowed only one member between them, and Glasgow and Sf. Andrew’s another, Acland 174-184- Frequent changes through death, ib. 377, 378 Explanation of ihe present system as regards the constituency or electing body by whom the lepresentaiives of the universities and corporations are sent to the Council, ib. 517-519. Representation on the Council of the Apothecaries’ Company and the University of Durham, neither of which corporations, when appointed, were medical authorities, Simon 692. Tabular statement, according to Returns made in 1870, as to the nineteen bodies by which the representative members of the General Medical Council are elected, App. 327-329- Further tabular statement of constituencies, comprising corrections by the several bodies down to 1878; App. 340-342. Return of the present members of the General Council, and Executive Council, App. 343- Return showing the names of the president, members, treasurers, and registrars of the Council, on 30th July 1879 ; App. 423. Return of the presidents, members, treasurers, and registrars, from the formation of the Council in 1858 to 30th July 1879; App. 424, 425. 2. Term of Appointment of Members : The appointments are mostly for five years, with power of renewal, Acland 126-129 • Advantage of re-election at the end of five years, ib. 378, 379. 3. Advocacy of Direct Representation of the Medical Profession generally: Explanation in detail of the views of the British Medical Association in support of direct representation of the medical profession, Waters 1553 et seq. Memorial pre- sented to the Medical Council bv members of the medical profession, in favour of direct representation; similar memorial addressed to Her Majesty’s Government in the year 1869 ; ib. 1640, 1641. Suggestions as to the mode which should be adopted for the election of medical repre- sentatives to the Council, Waters 1643-1646. 1653-1660 Strong opinion that, under a system of direct representation, professional agitators would not have the remotest chance of election to the Council ; belief that, on the contrary, the more eminent men of the profession would still be elected, ib. 1660, 1661 Difficulty in passing any Bill which does not provide for direct ^presentation of the profession, ib. 1718. 1785, 1786. Further information regarding the petitions presented by the medical profession in favour of direct representation; claim of one-third of the profession to have voted in favour of this question, Waters 1787-1803 Examination as to the possible advantage of direct representation in fitting the Medical Council to enter more into questions of medical policy than they now do ; opinion expressed by some of the most eminent mem- bers of the Council in favour of the represeniation of the profession, ib. 1865-1874. 1885-1890. 1803-1895. 1901, 1902. Contention that, under a system of direct representation, the representatives of the profess on would bring most important knowledge, as well as influence, to bear on the question of medical education; unanimity in the whole profession in regard 10 the im- portance of improving medical education, Waters 1870 One of the chief objects in advocating direct representation is, that greater pressure should be put upon those licensing bodies who pass candidates on too slight qualifications, ib. 1871. General unanimity on the part of the medical press in regard to the question of direct representation at the Medical Council, Waters 1603, 1604; Glover 2247 Further evidence