My remarks are based on the policy statements of the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association. We look to the Federal Medical Services Committee for implementation of these policies.
Veterans' medical care and the care of military dependents are specific examples of the federal government's participation in the practice of medicine. However, it would be well to consider here the larger picture, the general impact of these programs on American medicine as a whole, and especially on the private patient.
For the physicians and officials of the armed forces and the Veterans Administration, the area of responsibility is limited. Our area of responsibility is the whole nation, the whole American people, and we would fail in that responsibility if we allowed medical programs for one or two groups to expand unchecked at the expense of the rest of the nation.
We must achieve a balance between the medical