Aaltensche Courant, 23 maart 1910
Submitted, outside the responsibility of the editorial board.
M. de R.
The “doctors’ issue”, which has already set so many pens in motion at home and abroad and caused such turmoil in so many minds and hearts, originally belonging to Bocholt, has been transferred from there primarily to Aalten, and has genuinely taken on a fiercer character than the generality of mankind could have imagined.
On the 13th of this month, we were made aware of a letter of the following content:
Wir erklären dasz wir van 15 März 1910 an, die Nothfalle der mitglieder und derer angehörige Ihrer kasse nur gegen fünffacher Kampfestaxe, behandlen wollen.
Aalten, 10 März 1910. (w. g.) WEDUWEN, E.J.A. MELSTER, VAN LEUVEN.
Following this, we requested and obtained an interview with our aforementioned doctors on Monday the 14th of this month. We requested the gentlemen to specify to us what did and what did not constitute an “emergency” (Nothfall). Dr der Weduwen declared that this could only be decided by experts; Dr Melster intimated that a proper answer could not easily be given, as a whole book could be written on the subject. Furthermore, it appeared that there was no complete agreement on the matter between the three aforementioned gentlemen, since Dr van Leuven accepted more cases as an “emergency” than his colleagues here.
We urged that a list of “emergencies” be provided to us, so that we might say to our fellow members: “In the stated cases you may turn to the local physicians, and you will, albeit at an insanely high price, receive treatment.” This request was not complied with; Dr der Weduwen even declared that they were not even authorised to do so, and that the Medical Association (Maatschappij van Geneeskunde) and the Leipziger Verband had to pass judgment on the matter.
One of our number posed the question of whether the workers concerned could then not be treated at their own expense, whereupon Dr der Weduwen again intimated that this was also impossible, for, so this gentleman declared, we are waging a struggle against the health insurance funds (krankenkassen) and cannot do so otherwise than by fighting against the members of those funds.
This prompted one of our number to observe that we, members of the health insurance funds, were in an even worse condition than a farmer’s dog or pig. After all, if one of these animals falls ill, the owner goes to the vet and… treatment takes place. For us honest, industrious workers, treatment was out of the question.
To the question of one of our number, whether the health insurance funds or we had placed a single straw in the doctors’ path whereby they were justified in refusing us their aid, an answer in the negative was given, with the addition: “We cannot do otherwise,” to which we replied: “You can, but you will not.” We finally brought the conference to a close because we had formed the conviction that no result could be achieved with these unwilling doctors.
On Saturday 19 March, we were made aware of an official copy of the following letter:
Abschrift
Die unterzeichneten erklären, dasz sie seitens der in den Bocholter Fabriken beschäftigten, Holländischen arbeiter, besonders in den letzten woche auszerordentlich viele klagen vernomen haben, über die art der ärztlichen behandlung und versorgung der Holländischen fabrikarbeiter seit anfang dieses jahres. Die leute beklagen sich darüber, dasz die qualität der neuen ärzte eine mangelhafte sei, und das sie aus diesem grunde kein vertrauen mehr zu diesen haben könnten. Sie bedauern weiterhin lebhaft, dasz es ihnen unmöglich geworden ist, sich von ihnen alten vertrauten ärzten behandeln zu lassen.
Die leute erklären fast ausnahmslos, dasz sie es nicht wagen dürften, sich über die bestehende zustände zu beschweren, weil sie der sicheren Uberzeugung sind dann gekündigt zu werden, oder sonst auf irgend welche weise schweren miszhelligkeiten ausgesetzt zu werden. Weiterhin beklagen sich die arbeiter darüber, dasz sie in fallen von vorhandener Unarbeitsfähigkeit, oder Wiedererlangung der arbeitsfähigkeit von die neuen ärzten in Bocholt keine bescheinigung hierüber erlangen könnte.
In einer gestern stattgefundenen conferenz zwischen die Aaltener ärzten und einer deputation Holländischer, in Bocholt beschäftigter fabrikarbeiter, erklärten die letzteren, dasz zur zeit in den Holländischen grensbezirken Katzen und Hunden und Schweine besser ärztlich versorgt wurden als die menschen.
Die unterzeichneten sind jederzeit bereit vorstehende angaben, eidlich zu erhärten und auf wunsch weitere einzelheiten mundlich zu protokoll zu geben.
Aalten, den 15 März 1910.
(gez.) WEDUWEN, Arzt
„ MELSTER, „
„ VAN LEUVEN, „
Der Burgemeister
J. No. 712 C.
Bocholt, den 18 März 1910.
The content of the above copy is unacceptable to us. We shall shortly hold a general meeting, at which all interested parties over the age of 18 may be present. We specially invite our local doctors to attend this meeting.
We hope that these men of such high scientific standing will not be conspicuous by their absence. From the hearing of both sides, it will then be possible to make clear whether there is any truth in the above letter, and if so, what. We declare even now that the final assertion in that letter is one of the most gross lies spoken within our memory.
Grateful for the space granted, we have the honour to remain,
The Committee of Krankenkasse Members in Aalten.
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