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half by the solicitors to the Institute of Trichologists. During the course of the
Hearing it appeared that the training of members of the Institute is such that they
do not have the opportunity to gain.that minimum knowledge and experience of general
medicine necessary to ensure that conditions demanding medical attention and lightsensitive
conditions are recognised.
On behalf of the Institute it was suggested that this difficulty was overcome
in the area of another authority which required the trichologist to carry out ultraviolet
treatment on condition that he does so "only in accordance with the directions
given by a Registered Medical Practitioner with reference to each person to whom
treatment is given", but under the Disciplinary Notice of the General Medical Council,
to which all medical practitioners are subject, a medical practitioner is liable to
erasure from the Register if lie practises in association with an unqualified person,
although the Notice makes it clear that this rule does not affect "the legitimate
employment of nurses, inidwives, physiotherapists, dispensers and other persons trained
to perform specialised functions relevant to medicine, surgery and midwifery, provided
that the medical practitioner concerned exercises effective supervision over any
person so employed and retains personal responsibility for the treatment of the
patient."
The Appeal was dismissed. The case was of some interest in that it was, so far
as can be ascertained, the first occasion on which a local authority has challenged
the qualification of the Institute of Trichologists.
National Assistance Act, 1948
National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951
Section 47
This section deals with securing the necessary care and attention by removal to
a hospital or other place of persons who
(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease or being aged, infirm or physically
incapacitated, are living in insanitary conditions and
(b) are unable to devote to themselves, and are not receiving from other persons,
proper care and attention.
In no instance was it considered necessary to use the powers available under the
Act, but nevertheless the Act is valuable in that the knowledge that the statutory
power of removal exists often helps towards an effective decision.
Experience in dealing with these cases suggests that the "Section 47 cases"
often fall into a certain definite psychological category in which the inability to
trust others is a prominent feature. This attribute may have its origins in psychological
trauma in early life.
Nine cases, however, where it was thought that the person might be in need of
some attention, were brought to the notice of the Public Health Department. Each
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