The response of the New Zealand Medical profession to the introduction of social security

Abstract

This thesis examines the reactions of the medical profession in New Zealand to the introduction of Medical Social Security legislation and attempts to explain the reasons why the initial reaction of the medical profession was Unfavourable, and why this initial rejection of a 'universal' scheme of Medical Social Security later turned to acceptance. The profession's initial unfavourable reaction was determined by the conservative nature of its leadership in the mid 1930s. These leaders were vehemently opposed to the introduction of a 'universal' medical scheme. This opposition was justified by moralistic (indeed mystic) arguments which appear on close analysis to reflect an underlying political bias.