"QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN” 
N. D. M. S. Dec. 31st, 1889. 
The Chairman v 
That the papers in question were peculiar in them- 
selves, and unlike any others which a physician or citizen 
is ever called upon to out or endorse; that he be- 
lieved that he was among the first, if not the very first, to 
decline to give the so-called “ Statements of the Family 
Physician ” to Life Insurance Companies. He considered 
that whatever a family physician discovered in his patient’s 
ailments, or tendencies, was a matter not lightly to be made 
public. In this he was protected by the Courts, except in ex- 
treme cases. The surmises of a Family Physician might 
have foundation enough to be an important guide in the 
treatment of the patient, while not sufficiently matured for 
absolute opinion. Such surmises, and any unpromising 
facts, the physician should keep to himself, as far as 
possible, and not make public exposition of them for any 
commercial enterprise whatever. Life Insurance Com- 
panies are nothing more or less than commercial enter- 
prises, though at one time they endeavored to make it 
appear that they were charitable societies. But even if 
they were such, the case would not be altered as regards 
the Family Physician. 
P'or some time, the Chairman said, the Insurance 
Agents appeared to be rather indignant at his refusal to 
sign such papers, but, after a while, seemed to accept the 
situation. The principal Agent of the largest Life In- 
surance Company hereabouts, employed the chairman as 
his own Family Physician ; and, after hearing the attend- 
ant’s side of the question, adopted his views and never 
afterwards asked any patient of his to obtain such papers. That the applicant wishes his family physician’s “state- 
ment ” is not true,—he asks for it only because the com- 
pany would compel him,—he of his own accord would 
never think of it. His relations to the Company’s 
Medical Examiner are altogether different, as a moment’s 
consideration will show. 
The Profession itself did not at first seem to take the 
right view of the matter, but to think such papers might 
be given if the fees were large enough.' The late Dr. 
Homans, Sr., himself a Medical Examiner, however, sup- 
ported the Chairman in his efforts to prevent the practice. 
The Chairman said, that his position had not been 
without detriment to himself. On one occasion, a valued 
and valuable client, having failed in business, undertook 
an Agency, and brought to the Chairman some fifteen or 
y 
twenty forms to be filled up,—in cases of some of the best 
of his patients who wished to give their friend a good set-off 
in his new undertaking. The new Agent and his friends 
were greatly disturbed at first at what they called the 
want of heart and sympathy in the medical man, and 
some of them withdrew their professional patronage 
thenceforth and forever. That, as he assured them, he 
declined not from any prejudice against their cases, but 
from long-held principle, did not satisfy them; neverthe- 
less they soon after obtained, as they should, their insur- 
ance without such papers. Indeed there would be no 
difficulty in the matter if the Profession would universally 
decline making out these papers. There is no reason 
why medical men should become, against their will, assist- 
ant agents to advance the pecuniary interests of such 
insurance companies, as they do (so the Law decides) 
whenever they make out such papers. If they should 
falsify or give wrong testimony, in any case, ignorantly or 
designedly, the companies cannot escape on that account. 
The companies in their commercial venture should have the best of examiners, and trust to them ; and not attempt 
to invade the domain of professional secrets. 
Let any company decline a risk if it chooses to, because 
of a want of a Family Physician’s statement. This is 
the company’s affair, not that of the Family Physician. 
There are enough companies, and good ones too, that will 
take such risks. The Chairman never knew an applicant 
to fail ultimately on account of not having such a paper. 
P'or himself he has long had a small policy in the best 
one of these companies, and was never required to furnish a 
Family Physician’s statement. The company has already 
made money out of his case ! 
The Chairman added, that he was the author of the 
papers that appeared in the Medical Journal on this sub- 
ject—in December, 1861, and in July, 1873. He has 
never seen any reason to change the positions there taken. 
He wished every member of the Profession, Medical 
Eixaminers and Life Insurance Agents also, would read 
those articles carefully. For his part, he still thought 
there were some professional matters which should not 
be bought or sold—some things beyond and above any 
price.