American College of Surgeons - Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 32 text:

lo American College of Surgeons COMMITTEES ON STANDARDS In order that the College might make definite beginning toward the fulfilment of the recommendations of the General Secretary, the following resolutions, which are self-explanatory, were unan- imously approved by the Fellows, — Be it Resolved, First, that the Fellows of the College respect- fully authorize and instruct the Regents of the College to select in each state of the United States and in each province of Canada, subject to the approval of the Fellows of the respective states and provinces, a committeeman at large to serve for a period of three years. Second, that the committee thus created shall be known as the International Committee on Standards of the American College of Surgeons; that it shall meet at least once in each year to consider ways and means to create (a) supplementary and graduate train- ing for surgeons; (b) legislative enactment and other means to prevent dishonest practices; and (c) enactment of laws that will protect the public against untrained surgeons. Be it Resolved, First, that the Fellows of the College respect- fully request the Regents to hold an election of the Fellows in each state of the United States and in each province of Canada for the purpose of selecting two committeemen for each one million popula- tion or fraction thereof within the respective states and provinces. Second, that the committees thus created be known as State or Provincial Committees on Standards of the American College of Surgeons. Third, that the committeeman of the International Committee on Standards shall serve as the Chairman of his re- spective State or Provincial Committee on Standards. Fourth, that the purposes of this committee are to create co-operation among medical societies, medical schools, hospitals, and in the general public toward an active program for the fulfilment of the recom- mendations of the International Committee on Standards. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO FELLOWSHIP In Bulletin No. i the requirements for admission to Fellowship are published in full detail. Briefly stated, these requirements are as follows, — I. The candidate shall be a graduate of medicine, licensed to practice medicine in his respective state or province, or

Page 31 text:

Further Advance of Surgery 9 of medical graduates. Outside of three or four conspicuous exceptions, where a limited number of selected men are thoroughly drilled as surgeons, and where they are turned out as skilled diagnosticians, pathologists, and operators, there is no real train- ing school for surgeons. These super-trained surgeons are so few in number that they cannot fill even the teaching positions in the large centers of population. Now let me ask: Is the standard of surgery of these few men too good for the public in smaller com- munities? Is the best surgery too good for the humblest patient an5nvhere in our country? With our great faculties of medicine, with our endowed labora- tories, with our great private and public hospitals, with our founda- tions of medical research, is there not one force on this continent to say to these leading organizations: ' You must not sanction the general practice of surgery to those untrained in surgery ' ? Is there a force in better position for such leadership than the American College of Surgeons? Can any one doubt that the College, con- sisting of four thousand real surgeons of America, has any right to shirk such a responsibility? Can the College find the sHghtest reason to delegate this tremendous task to any other organization? If it is proper that some force should standardize surgery, then it is right that the College should set about the work, for the very preamble of the College insists that the standardization of surgery is our major business. Our responsibility in this direction is plain. We can meet the responsibiHty. To start with, practically all of the teachers of surgery on this continent are with us. Through clear aspirations, through genuine enthusiasm, and through untiring efforts, we have weathered all waves of criticism and perfected a powerful organiza- tion. Further, that organization is now endowed. An inspiring momentum is under way. While this initiative is with us, let us become the keepers of surgery on this continent in a fashion as yet only true in dreams. ' I am so thoroughly convinced that this tremendous undertak- ing should be assumed and directed by the American College of Surgeons that I am going to ask you to create some further machin- er y needed for the work. Every day that we neglect to provide means to prevent untrained men from operating (except in emer- gencies) we are a party in encouraging unnecessary and criminally unsafe surgery. . . .

Page 33 text:

Requirements for Admission to Fellowship ii accepted as a medical officer in the service of his respective country. 2. To be eligible for Fellowship without technical examination the candidate shall be a graduate of a medical school approved by the American College of Surgeons. If the candidate ' s school of graduation is not accredited by the American College of Surgeons, he may be required to pass a technical examination in one or all subjects of the medical curriculum. 3. The candidate shall give evidence that he has served at least one year as an interne in a creditable hospital and two years as a surgical assistant, or he shall give evidence of an apprenticeship of equivalent value. Five to eight years after graduation in med- icine, devoted to special training and to practice, are normally the time-requirement for eligibility to Fellowship. Due impor- tance is attached to laboratory and research work. 4. The moral and ethical fitness of the candidate shall be deter- mined by the reports of surgeons whose names are submitted by the candidate himself, and by such other reports and data as the Creden- tials Committee and the administration of the College may obtain. 5. The professional activity of the candidate shall be limited to the study, diagnosis, and operative work in general surgery or in special fields of surgery, such as eye, ear, nose and throat, genito- urinary, orthopedics, and gynecology and obstetrics, as follows: First, if the candidate resides in a city of less than fifty thousand inhabitants, at least fifty per cent of his professional activity shall be limited to the practice of general surgery, or to practice within the special fields of surgery as stated. Second, in cities of over fifty thousand inhabitants, at least eighty per cent of the profes- sional activity of the candidate shall be limited to the practice of general surgery, or to practice within special fields of surgery. In other words, the College desires to admit to its Fellowship only those who are primarily specialists in surgery, and the minimum proportion of specialization which is acceptable may vary accord- ing to the size of t he city in which the candidate resides. 6. The candidate shall make formal application for Fellow- ship. Blank forms for this purpose may be had, upon request, from the General Secretary of the College. 7. In making application for Fellowship the candidate shall sign a declaration which reads as follows, — I hereby promise upon my honor as a gentleman that I will