PEDIATRICS Vol. 1 No. 4 April 1948, pp. 521
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THE PRESIDENT'S PAGE

WM. C. BLACK M.D.

I am in receipt of your form letter to all members of the Academy dated March 2, 1948 with the appended report of the American Academy of Pediatrics' "Committee for the Improvement of Child Health." I note with despair that this report was approved by the Academy's Executive Board, Chicago, February 8, 1948.

I cannot tell you how stunned and staggered I was as I read this vicious document which has received official approval by our Executive Board. I could not believe my eyes. Now that I have recovered from the initial shock somewhat, I wish to inform you of my complete, total, uncompromising disgust with this stupid and visionary report, and the clear implication that control of Academy affairs and of the pediatric survey have fallen into the hands of persons committed to the collectivist social philosophy.

No one is more desirous of the "good life" than I am. No one is more anxious than I for every child in America to have the best of pediatric care and guidance, and an ample share of all the other attributes of a full and abundant life. But only an impractical dreamer could write a report such as this or believe for one instant that adoption of any part of its recommendations could lead to anything but compulsion, coercion, bureaucracy, stateism, and despotism. The report clearly, baldly, and unequivocally cleaves to the communist social philosophy. I don't!

Therefore, please be advised that through my own personal sense of responsibility to the young men and women who choose medicine as a profession, to our honored profession itself, to the American children under my care now and in the future, to the concept of the dignity and worth of the individual, to my conviction that mankind can attain its future high destiny and maintain progress in that direction only through personal liberty under law, I am compelled to proffer my resignation from the American Academy of Pediatrics to become effective immediately, when and if this disastrous report or any part thereof is adopted by the Academy.