Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1932, Page 152

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cinated for the first time, only 54% with full reaction, and 2cS80 re-vac-
cinated, also 54% with í'ull reaction (cf. table XVI).
19. The year was unusually rich in legislature on matters of health,
and there is particularly to he mentioned new legislation on licences to
practise medicine, the duties and privileges of physicians and others
holding a licence to practise medicine, and on empiricism. rfhe princi-
pal points of these laws are as follows:
(1) The taking of a medical degree alone does not entitle the gradu-
ate to practise, a licence issued by the Minister of Health being re-
quired. But anyone is entitled to this licence who, besides complying
with the general conditions, has passed a final examination in medi-
cine in the University of lceland and subsequently extended his know-
ledge bv hospital work for a fixed period and in accordance with fixed
rules.
(2) The Minister of Health grants permission for practising as a
specialist according to fixed rules.
(3) Various rules on the relations between doctor and patient and
on tlie former’s relations to the puhlic, on doctor’s certificates, profes-
sional secrecj^, etc. On private matters a doctor may not be called to
give legal evidence without the consent of the person concerned, un-
less the decision in the case may be expected to turn upon his evidence
and the matter is of real consequence for the parties or for the com-
munity. Should a doctor be called upon to give evidence he shall do so
in camera.
(4) Doctors must not advertise their practise otherwise than on their
door-plate in an unobtrusive manner, and their change of address.
(5) The Minister draws up a schedule of rates for district medical
officers to adhere to when thev make charges for their services. The
Minister shall, with regard to a sehedule of rates, seek to come to an
agreement with the professional union of medical practitioners, and
in the event of such an agreement not being arrived at, he shall in
drawing up for them a schedule of rates, have regard to the one given
for the guidance of district medical officers.
(6) The advertising of medicines and medical instruments of what-
ever description is forbidden in Iceland.
(7) The work of quack doctors (empirics) is absolutely forbidden
in Iceland.
20. In Section III of this volume is published a letter from the Chief
Medical Officer, dated February 15th 1934, to the Mayor and Alder-
men of Reykjavik, urging that the city should utilize some of thc capi-
tal saved by the comparatively small contribution to hospitals, manv
of the Government hospitals being ii) ihe city or its immediate vicinitv,
by building a Health Protection Centre for Reykjavik. First and fore-
most this health centre should care for mothers, children and persons
with tubercular tendencies, but gradually extend its sphere of aetivitv,
aiming at becoming a universal and we11 equipped health promoting
centre, concerning itself with anything that may tend to prevent
disease of whatever kind, illness and accidents, and promote universal
good-health in the capital and thus also in the country as a whole.