Doctors' Dilemma

One of the two general hospitals in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (pop. 40,000) is 200-bed St. Francis Hospital, operated by Roman Catholic Franciscan nuns.* Among the 160 doctors on the roster at St. Francis are many non-Catholics, and some of them are also members of the Dutchess County League of the Planned Parenthood Federation (birth control, etc.). It had been this way for years, and nobody ever did anything about it.

Last week seven non-Catholic staff doctors (three Protestants, four Jews) were told that they had 72 hours either to resign from the Planned Parenthood League or give up the privilege of practicing at St. Francis.

Dr. John F. Rogers had four patients in St. Francis Hospital recovering from operations. For their sake, he dropped out of the league. But, he added, he might quit the hospital staff when his patients were better. Drs. Martin Leiser and Paul M. Lass also decided to stay with the hospital. In his case, said Lass, it was all a mistake: he had never been a member of the league, had been consulted occasionally as a specialist in human fertility and sterility.

The other four physicians refused to quit either the league or the hospital roster; they said they would resist the hospital's ultimatum. Said Dr. Albert A. Rosenberg: "I am not going to resign from the parenthood league, and I shall continue to care for my patients in the hospital until I am barred from entering it."

Why had no action been taken for so long? Why the abrupt 72-hour notice? Hospital authorities refused to answer those questions. Said the Rt. Rev. Michael P. O'Shea, dean of Roman Catholic clergy in the area: "Everyone knows where the hospital stands on the question of birth control ... I am certain that every doctor, every Christian and every citizen will realize that on a question like this we cannot carry water on both shoulders." Retorted a committee of Poughkeepsie's Protestant and Jewish clergymen: "The attempt to police the thoughts and personal actions of individuals ... is un-American."

*The other: Vassar Brothers Hospital, named for Matthew and John Vassar, nephews of the founder of nearby Vassar College.

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