Holoubek, Alice Baker

Holoubek, Joe E.

English

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The Linacre QuarterlyVolume 27 | Number 4 Article 5November 1960Report: The IX International Congress of CatholicPhysicians, Munich, Germany July 25-30, 1960Joe E. HoloubekAlice Baker HoloubekFollow this and additional works at: https://epublications.marquette.edu/lnqRecommended CitationHoloubek, Joe E. and Holoubek, Alice Baker (1960) "Report: The IX International Congress of Catholic Physicians, Munich,Germany July 25-30, 1960," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 27 : No. 4 , Article 5.Available at: https://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol27/iss4/5Report THE IX INTERNATiuNAL CONGRESS OF CATHOLIC PHYSICTllNS MUNICH, GERMANY JULY 25-30, 1960 THE FOLLOWING is a brief resume of some of the many papers presented at this Congress which we had the privilege of attending as delegates of the Na­tional Federation of Catholic Phy­sicians' Guilds. Ors. John Mucci­grosso. Arthur Buscenni, and J. Schreiner also attended as dele­gates. There were some twelve physicians registered from the United States. Professor Dr. Leo Norpoth of Essen is president of the Catholic Medical Association of Germany. the host group. Pro­fessor Dr. Luigi Gedda of Rome is president of the International Federation of Catholic Physicians. It was voted to hold the X In­ternational Congress of Catholic Physicians in London during Au­gust. 1962. Professor Dr. O'Sul­livan has promised an excellent program ·and social events in true British tradition. Make your plans now to attend this meeting. • Dr. Joe E. Holoubek is first vice-presi­dent of the National Federation of Cath­olic Physicians' Guilds; both physicians are members of the Shreveport. Louisiana Guild. 152 'Joe E. Holoubek. M.D. Alice Baker Holoubek, D. There were many paJ read in the language of the and simultaneously transfa English, German. French. and Spanish. The theme meeting was "Physicians Age of Technology." Her brief statements. s. all eaker j into talian. :if thend thefollowPROFESSOR NEUNDORFER OF FRA �KFURT THE PHYSICIAN AND MOlERN SOCIETY Professor Neundorfer di3cussed the changing position of the phy­sician in the modern society of Germany. Even though there are more doctors, the demand for health care under the Social Se­curity system is much greater and the doctors are extremely over­worked. The physician works for the public service system and there is no traditional doctor-patient re­lationship. The German practi­tioner is not only a physician who has to treat his patients, but he is burdened with many administra· tive duties; he must decide whether LINACRE QUARTERLY or not a patient can be employed. liow much disability he has. and liow much compensation he will receive. He is bound by many regulations which limit his field of action. He must see many patients in one day. Professor Neundorfer intention­ally left most of the questions unanswered. He stated that Cath­oUc physicians must work out these problems for themselves. applying the principles of Christ. Dr. Mariano Alimurung of Ma­nila. in discussing the above paper. stated that physicians must extend their activity into the political fleld in order to safeguard the profes­sional practice of medicine. It was suggested that physicians take an active part in politics and serve as rtpresentatives in the National As­semblies in order to prevent legis­lation for immoral practices in medicine. He further stated that there is no problem of over-population. but rather one of over-concentration. A logical and practical solution to the so-called over-population prob­lem would be better population distribution. PaonssoR MArNx OP V1ENNA 9UISTIONS OF HEREDITY IN THE TECHNICAL AGE Professor Mainx discussed the elects of radiation in the develop­lltnt of embryo and mentioned that mutations can be produced by ��II doses. He stated that a phy­lleian is obliged to decide what I-ray examinations are necessarydaring the reproductive age. Healao recommended protecting the IOnads when large doses are used.NovtMBE.R, 1960 Du !011"< CAVANAGH OF \ \.' \5HINGTON, D. C. HYPNOSIS ,r. Cavanagh discussed the w 1 -i:spread use of hypnosis in the U ted States at this time and ca• tioned against the indiscrim­in, te use of it by the untrained ph sician. Dr. Cavanagh described th' various technics. He cautioned th full explanation be given to th: subject. The results depend u,•cm: I. the willingness of the su>Jject; 2. the skill of the operator; 3 the method of induction; 4. the pr:;!vious experience of the subject. He feels that it is a therapeutic instrument. but if not used cor­rectly. there are physiological, psy­chological. psychiatric and moral dangers. Hypnosis should be em­ployed by a stable. skilled individ­ual who is competent to determine whether borderline mental illness exists in his patient. Since the removal of certain symptoms may precipitate severe psychiatric ill­ness. it should be used in these cases only after a careful study of the personality structure. The lim­ited use of hypnosis for dental an­esthesia is usually without danger. Dr. Cavanagh concluded with a quotation from the Holy Office. �tating that "the use of hypnosis in medicine is not morally forbid­cen if it does not tend to an illicit or evil end." DR. PHILIP C. ROND, CoLUMBUS, 01110 ETHICAL ASPECTS OF INTENSIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY Dr. Rend stated that intensive psychotherapy has been considered a morally reprehensible procedure in the past by those who were un-153 familiar wi its true value. I le stated that it is as important a tnol to the trained psychiatrist as a scalpel is to the surgeon and ti 1t the results are comparable. T e personal psychology of the ps· -chotherapist can color his trea -ment and must be considered. The practicing physician, tJ,c priest and others owe it to those> in their care to determine the ethi · cal fitness of the psychotherap1�t in the community and use his sen, ices for their benefit, spirituallv and physically. DR. C. J. KURTH OF WICHITA, KANSAS PSYCHIATRIC AND l'SYCHOLOGICA, SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR THI FEMALE RELIGIOUS ORDER Dr. Kurth discussed the fact that it takes a stable character and personality to become a priest 01 religious. He said that rejection of a .potential vocation is a seriouf decision, but on the other hand, t< permit students to enter a conven or seminary who are mentally unnl is tragic. A careful selection o' candidates for such a life woul, 1 result in a marked decrease i1. mental illness in religious voca tions. He believes that with suit able screening and testing, thL pre-psychotic and psychotic could be eliminated. Dr. Kurth is of the belief that the childhood environment is more inportant than the family tree. He listed ten points that should be considered in selecting or re­jecting a candidate for psychiatric reasons. He stated that Catholic physicians and psychiatrists should 154 create a positive progr could be used by religio1, riors as a guide for the selc candidates. Ten years ag St. Joseph Convent in such a program was inat with the collaboration of th physician, a psychologist, chiatrist and the superioi community. The results h, very satisfactory and "' scribed. Dr. Kurth advoec programs elsewhere. These last three paper published in detail in the of the Guild of Catholic trists, 1703 Rhode Islar Washington 6, D. C. Eve olic physician should rec• publication. Subscription $5.00 per year; send to d address. that supe­on of it the ichita t rated family ' psy­A the f.' been e de­; such viii be ulletin 9chia­Ave .. Cath-ve this 1rice is above His ExcELLENCY, F. ANGELINI, TITULAR BISHOP OP MESSENE POPE PIUS XII AND MED CINE Bishop Angelini revie, 1ed the life and works of Pope Pius XIIrelated to medical care an .:I physi­cians. He discussed the Holy Father's deep interest in the most complex matters of genetics, mor· als, psychology, reanimation and related all of those to the doctrine of Christ. The physician must be able to master the new world of technical progress. Since every new technical advance comes froID God, it must lead him back to God. Man must master technical progress and not let it master hiID, Pope Pius XII wrote that physr· cians have a privileged position because of their close contact with LINACRE QUARTERLY humanity and so must treat the whole man, body, and soul. The Catholic physician who has the true spirit of humility will always be a solace to human misery and will always ask for God's Grace to help him do His work. He discussed the results of ob­stetrics practiced in two Catholic hospitals there. These are state­ai<led b u t  not  state-controlled. From 1948 to 1960 they had ap­proximately 12,950 unselected de­liveries in these hospitals. Many of these were referred by the cler­gy because an abortion, or a fourth section with sterilization, had been r<'commended at state-controlled hospitals. There· was no maternalmortality. He stated that thera­peutic abortion is never medically justified. Obviously there were no therapeutic abortions or ster­ilizations performed. PlloPESSOR POUMA!LLOUX OF PARIS THE LIMITS TO HEART THERAPY Professor Poumailloux reviewed the tremendous advances of diag­nosis and surgical correction of cardiac defects. He stated that the pre-operative examination must be extremely thorough and performed by a skilled team. The anesthesi­ologist must be specially trained in pre-operative and post-operative care. The surgeon must be a com­plete master of the entire proce­dure. The diagnostic team is mor­ally obliged not to put a patient through any unnecessary examina­tion. He quoted the statements of Pope Pius XII on human experi­mentation. The professor stated that the public demands a "glamorous" operation and that it is the duty of the physician tc:> decide whether �e patient's cardiac condition jus­ti8es extensive examination, treat­lllalt, or the risks of surgery. However, physicians and sur-8'0ns should continue experiments Oil animals and when perfected toIlle these procedures on human beings in order .to develop safer techniques, providing the rules of tlJ>erimentation are justified. 0.. J. V. O'SULLIVAN OP LONDON PROILEMS OF PREGNANCY DR. MARIA1'0 AL!MURUNG OF MANILA PROBLEMS OF CATHOLIC MEDICINE IN ASIA Dr. Alimurung gave an out­standing review of the position of the Catholic physician in Asia. FRAU PROFESSOR DORER INDIVIDUALITY OF MAN Professor Dorer discussed the individuality of man and his iden­tity as a person from the moment of conception. Man is a person at that moment and has a right to live whether one minute old or fifty­years old. Therefore, the fetus and embryo should be referred to as "he" and not "it." This distinction in terminology in the English lan­guage would do much to make everyone understand that the fer­tilized egg is a distinct person, a unit of body and soul. DR. LY TRANG DUNG OF SAIGON MEDICAL ACTIVITY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Dr. O'Sullivan is one of the few Catholic obstetrician; in London. �MBER, 1960 Dr. Dung described the lack of medical facilities and of physicians 155 in Asia. There is a particular lack of Catholic physicians, medical books, and other literature. He stressed the need of help from Catholic physicians who live in more fortunate areas. DR. DECKER OF SOUTHERN RHODESIA THE WORK OF MISSIONARY DOCTORS IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA Dr. Decker discussed the work that she and several missionary doctors from Germany are doing. It was interesting to note that al­though there are several American non-Catholic medical missions in the area, there are no American Catholic medical men or women there. DR. ALICE BAKER HOLOUBEK, SHREVEPORT. LA. HEALTH CARE OF THE CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS Dr. Alice described the health care program being sponsored by The Catholic Hospital Ass >ciation of the United States and :anada and the National Feder, '.ion of Catholic Physicians' Gui!, s. The Health R ecord form was distrib­uted. The paper was well eceived by the audience. DR. ]OE HOLOUBEK, SHREYEPO, ' LA. ACTIVITIES OF THE NATI )NAL FEDERATION OF CATHO .JC PHYSICIANS' GUILD! This report was pub! ,ed in THE LrNACRE QUARTER' • Au­gust, 1960. The activitie af our Guilds will be a stimulus those in other countries. Dr. A! urung discussed this paper an, stated that he was first introduce to the work of the National Fe eration during his three years in Boston where he. was inspired by the re­treats of that Guild. He h s since formed a Guild in the Ph. ippines and was chairman of ti· : First Asian Congress of Catho' c Phy­sicians. LINACRE QUARTERLY Mor.tality and Morbidity Studies of Religious (A Contribution to Natiornl Public Health) By CoN J. FEcrIER. Pr1.D. Associate Professor of Economics University of Dayton THE RESULTS of the recent study covering a half-century of the health and longevity of nuns should have valuable implications in a nationwide effort to formulate a future health program for reli­gious, men and women, in the United States. This study supple­mented with further research in the field of morbidity (disability) ol both groups will produce statis­tics on disease, injury and impair­ment which now have a direct bearing on the well-being of every community measuring its useful­ness to God and Country. Studies of this kind can contribute a wealth of knowledge to public health ad­ministrators, giving them an accu­rate appraisal. of the extent and character of certain diseases, their distribution. severity trends and inffuence on eventual death. The value of this information to be gained for the nation as a whole is difficult to estimate. The poten­tialities will be in direct proportion to what can be accomplished in future studies of mortality and morbidity of religious. The ad­ministration of any extensive pub­lic health service maintained by smal] or large communities to pre­vent the spread of disease and to raise the general health level is NOVEMBER, 1960 based upon a detailed body of mortality and morbidity  data. With information of this kind on hand a community is in position to evaluate its health needs and to plan specific future health pro­grams accordingly. MORTALITY The basic data from which much of our knowledge concerning the health of the population in the past arose from the entries of causes of death or mortality sta­tistics. But mortality data alone fails to provide a complete health picture of a community or of the nation since there are many dis­abilities that do not terminate in death but do present important health problems. A comprehen­sive system of morbidity reporting comparable to that of mortality will answer many questions that are now unanswered with respect to certain causes of death. Little or no definite information in respect to death rates of reli­gious had been available before 1900. Vital statistical studies re­flecting mortality of religious or­ders. nuns and monks, had been made in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, by the Frenchman, 157 

Report: The IX International Congress of Catholic Physicians, Munich, Germany July 25-30,
      1960

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Report: The IX International Congress of Catholic Physicians, Munich, Germany July 25-30, 1960

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