Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic medicine and Toxicology. Vol. 1

by R. A. Witthaus; Tracy C. Becker

No person is entitled to registration or license unless he shall satisfy the council that he has passed a matriculation or preliminary examination; that after passing such examination he has followed his studies for not less than four years, one of which may be under the direction of one or more general practitioners duly licensed; that during such four years he has attended at some university, college, or incorporated school of medicine in good standing, courses of lectures amounting together to not less than twelve months on general anatomy, on practical anatomy, on surgery, on practice of medicine, on midwifery, on chemistry, on materia medica and pharmacy, and on the institutes of medicine or physic, and one three-months’ course of medical jurisprudence; that he has attended the general practice of an hospital in which are not less than fifty beds under the charge of not less than two physicians or surgeons, for not less than one year or two periods of not less than six months each; that he has also attended two three-months’ courses or one six-months’ course of clinical medicine, the same of clinical surgery; that he has, after an examination in the subjects of the course, obtained a degree or diploma from such university, college, or incorporated medical school if such institution require a four-years’ course for its diploma, or for the want of such degree or diploma that he has satisfactorily passed an examination in the various branches hereinbefore specified before the examiners appointed by the council; that he is not less than twenty-one years of age; that he has paid to the registrar of the council a fee of ten dollars. The council has power, subject to the approval of the governor in council, to make alterations as may be required in the foregoing curriculum. If any person apply for registration as a practitioner of any system of medicine, the registered practitioners of that system have the right to appoint an examiner or examiners on the subjects peculiar to that system, viz., materia medica, pharmacy, and therapeutics, and if they neglect so to do the council has the power to appoint such examiner or examiners (ib., s. 12).

The last preceding section does not apply to persons in actual practice entitled to register under sec. 38. Any person producing to the council conclusive evidence that he has passed a matriculation or a preliminary examination, as required by this act for persons beginning medical studies in New Brunswick, that he has before graduating or taking a diploma studied at least four years as provided in sec. 12, or pursued what the council deem an equivalent course of study and has passed a final examination in the subjects of such course, or, for the want of such requirement, shall have fulfilled such conditions as the council may determine, and shall pay a fee of ten dollars, shall be entitled to registration and to receive a license to practise (ib., s. 13).

The act makes special provision for residents of the province who began study before January 1st, 1881 (ib., s. 14, as amended 1882, c. 30, s. 1).

Duties of Council.—The council is empowered and required to regulate the study of medicine, surgery, and midwifery, with regard to preliminary qualifications, course of study, final examination, and the evidence to be produced before the council; to appoint a registration committee; to examine all degrees, diplomas, licenses, and other credentials presented or given in evidence under the act to enable the owner to practise in New Brunswick, and to oblige the owner to attest on oath or affirmation that he is the person whose name is mentioned therein, and that he became possessed thereof properly and honestly; to cause every member of the profession practising in New Brunswick to register his name, age, place of residence, place of nativity, date of license or diploma, and the place where he obtained it; to appoint medical examiners, who may be members of the council, to hold final examinations, who shall be regularly qualified practitioners of not less than five years’ professional standing and three years’ residence in the province (ib., s. 15, as amended 1882, c. 30, s. 2, 3).

Correction of Register.—The registrar is required to erase the names of all registered persons who shall have died, left the province without the intention of returning, or ceased to practise for five years; and from time to time to make the necessary alterations in the addresses or qualifications of registered persons. Any name erased shall be restored by the order of the council on sufficient cause duly shown (ib., s. 18).

Neglect to Register.—Persons entitled to registration, neglecting or omitting to register, are not entitled to any rights or privileges conferred by the act (ib., s. 19).

System of Practice.—No person otherwise qualified shall be refused registration or license on account of the adoption or the refusal to adopt the practice of any particular theory of medicine or surgery. In case of refusal the aggrieved party may appeal to the governor in council, who is required, on due cause shown, to issue an order to the council to register his name and grant him a license to practise, and thereupon the council shall forthwith register his name and grant him a license to practise (ib., s. 20).

Evidence of Qualification, Fraudulent Registration.—No qualification can be entered unless the registrar be satisfied by proper evidence that the person claiming it is entitled to it. An appeal may be made from the registrar’s decision to the council. Any entry proved to the satisfaction of the council to have been fraudulently or incorrectly made may be erased by the order in writing of the council, and the name of such person fraudulently registering, or attempting to register, may, at the discretion of the council, be published in the next issue of the Royal Gazette (ib., s. 21).

Forfeiture of Right.—A registered medical practitioner convicted of felony, or after due inquiry judged by the council to have been guilty of infamous conduct in any professional respect thereby, subject to appeal to the governor in council, forfeits his right to registration, and by the direction of the council his name shall be erased from the register (ib., s. 22).