The Planning of Medical Service for Present Needs and Future Requirements

Abstract

Those of us whose privilege it was to serve our country during the first world war and to observe in the past few years the gradual destruction of principles for which we fought now face a new world conflict. Those of us who have an opportunity now to participate in the defense of our nation must turn our attention to a study of medical needs during the present emergency and to planning for the postwar world. Such planning should consider the rehabilitation of mankind and the establishment of a permanent peace which will assure to every man, woman and child freedom of thought, freedom of action and liberty. Hate, despotism and tyranny should have no place in a postwar world dedicated to humanity. Medicine has a fundamental role and will assume an integral part in the establishment of enduring world peace. Without healthy minds and bodies, no nation of civilized men can survive or prosper.The government of the United States was founded on certain principles which establish our present mode of living, thinking and acting. These principles were writ¬ ten into our Constitution by Thomas Jefferson, the anniversary of whose two hundredth birthday we recently celebrated. The dedication of a memorial to him, in the city of Washington, pays tribute to a great man who wrote "We hold these truths to be self evident : that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights ; among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." He also gave expression to a guiding principle, on which a sound program of medical planning is based, when he said "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hos¬ tility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." The achievements of the medical profession in our country are an example of the wisdom of such freedom. By scientific progress in the control of infec¬ tious diseases, including the almost complete eradication of a few diseases by prophylactic inoculations, preven¬ tion of accidents, establishment of adequate public health measures and development of better curative treatments, many years have been added to the span of life.The present global war, with its far flung battle fronts, has created many new and unexpected problems and has placed heavy demands on the medical resources of our country. As the war progresses in duration and in intensity, these demands will be greatly multiplied. We must be prepared to meet medical problems as they arise, to supply the immediate needs and to formulate plans for effective service under changing conditions. In formulating such plans the American Medical Asso¬ ciation is not an isolated unit. For the greatest good, the combined and cooperative efforts of ail organizations interested in medical care must be enlisted as partici¬ pants in the program. The in the perfection of plans which will furnish better and more evenly distributed medical ser¬ vice for our people. I know of no time in the history of American medicine when such an undertaking could be more effectively or usefully initiated t...