10. Captain TUDOR-REESasked the Pensions Minister whether it is in conformity with his instructions for parish doctors to certify a discharged soldier or sailor for a lunatic asylum; and, if so, whether he will abolish this practice, which attaches a taint of pauperism to the patient, and will order that before a discharged man is removed to an asylum he shall be certified by a medical board of not less than three members?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe Lunacy Acts require a certification to be 578 made by registered medical practitioners; the medical practitioner may happen also to be the parish doctor, but it would only be as registered medical practitioner, and not as parish doctor, that his services would be required. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a circular issued to local committees last year, in which the procedure to be adopted for certification is explained.
Captain TUDOR-REESWill the right hon. Gentleman promise to consider the proposal suggested in the last part of the question with regard to discharged men having to be certified by a board of not less than three doctors?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will do me the honour of reading the circular, he will see that steps are taken to keep the patient from all Poor Law taint.