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Other Cities Think

From: Dr. Haiselden And The Bollinger Baby
Creator: n/a
Date: November 18, 1915
Publication: The Chicago Daily Tribune
Source: Available at selected libraries

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Physicians and public persons in New York, Baltimore, Denver, and other municipalities disagreed on the Baby Bollinger verdict. Several physicians declared that it was the first duty of a doctor to save life under all circumstances. Others insisted that Dr. Haiselden's position was justified.

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New York, Nov. 17. -- The Medico Legal society tonight adopted a resolution commending Dr. Haiselden for refusing to prolong the life of the defective Bollinger baby in Chicago. Oscar J. Smith, who offered the resolution, said the refusal of Dr. Haiselden to perform an operation was not only saving the child misery but saving society the responsibility of caring for it. Numerous other addresses were made commending the Chicago surgeon.

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Baltimore, Md. Nov. 17. -- Leading Baltimore physicians, including Dr. L. F. Barker of the Johns Hopkins university, take the view that, speaking generally, the first duty of the physician is to save life.

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"It is the present duty of the physician or surgeon to prolong life wherever possible in every case," said Dr. Barker. "So far as I know there is no legal justification for any other action the time may come when people will pass laws which will change that rule in special cases. Humanly speaking, however, I think every one will sympathize with the parents and the surgeon in this case, if the child is hopelessly deformed, mentally and physically."

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Denver, Colo., Nov. 17. -- Judge Ben Lindsey today stated it would be an act of mercy to let Mrs. Anna Bollinger's deformed infant die.

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"This case in Chicago should give an impulse to the national movements for birth control and prevention of defectives," said the famous Juvenile court leader.

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Cincinnati, O., Nov. 17. -- -Special- - Dr. Frank Harmon, brother of ex-Gov. Judson Harmon, who has been superintendent of Longview insane asylum for more than thirty years, said"

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"In those cases I most certainly would allow the unfortunates to die. Seeing hundreds has convinced me that the best thing is to allow nature to end their miseries as soon as it will be merciful enough to do so."