Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)

Ms 76, 1911

Interview/On Men and Women Physicians

Loma Linda, California

November 7, 1911

Previously unpublished.

Interview Regarding Men and Women Physicians

Present: E. G. White, Mrs. Burden, Dr. White, M. Hawkins. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 1

After some general conversation, Sister White said: 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 2

I was shown that a very difficult matter would come for settlement at this meeting, and that we should know how to deal with it wisely. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 3

Mrs. Burden: That is what I came to talk with you about. It is in regard to the treatments given by gentlemen physicians to lady patients. We want this matter settled so that we can arrange things properly. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 4

E. G. White: For years it has been shown me that this practice is contrary to Bible teaching; neither was it the custom in Bible times for women to treat the diseases of men, or men to treat the diseases of women. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 5

Mrs. Burden: Here is a question: When we come to the treatment of women by men and in the matter of childbirth, we see that that is clear. Now when it comes to the matter of surgical cases— 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 6

E. G. White: That is a matter in which we must follow the best light we have; and we must treat the cases as sensible people would want to treat them. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 7

Mrs. Burden: What do you think of a woman taking treatment from a man on a delicate, or private, part of the body? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 8

E. G. White: I am instructed that it is positively forbidden. I was shown the case of a doctor who would get a class of young girls about him, and tell them things that he had no business to tell them. I said to him, You will tell yourself out of the institution. God forbids any such commonness. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 9

Dr. White: When we have operations on women, do you think the young men ought to be called in to witness the operations? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 10

E. G. White: No. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 11

Dr. White: How would the men learn to do that kind of surgery if they were not called in this way? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 12

E. G. White: Let the men teach them. We must build up some kind of wall of distinction between the men and the women. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 13

Mrs. Burden: You think it is all right for our intelligent women physicians to perform surgical operations? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 14

E. G. White: They can do it if they have the capabilities in them for the work, but you will have to distinguish between those who can do this and those who cannot. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 15

Mrs. Burden: When a woman has to be examined for an operation, is it not right that a woman should make the examination if a gentleman physician is to perform the operation? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 16

E. G. White: If the lady is to be examined, she should be examined by the lady physician. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 17

Mrs. Burden: That is right. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 18

E. G. White: And if she has to die, it is no more than she would do if the man examined her. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 19

Mrs. Burden: Our men do not think that the women are capable of doing that work. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 20

E. G. White: They are not able until they learn. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 21

Mrs. Burden: But some have done it for years. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 22

E. G. White: Many feel that the lady physician has not the capabilities that the gentleman physician has; but this is the opposite to what the Lord has shown to me. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 23

Mrs. Burden: The young men want to know the truth on this point; but they will not know it until you tell them. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 24

E. G. White: They will know it before this meeting closes. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 25

Mrs. Burden: Should the young men and women study the subject of obstetrics together, or should the men teach the men and the women the women? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 26

E. G. White: I should separate them. This unnecessary mingling has got to end. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 27

Mrs. Burden: What do you think of a woman physician teaching men physicians midwifery? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 28

E. G. White: She has no business to do it. If we will educate our women to do a physician's work, they will act their part. They did this in Bible times; but it was not to teach the men. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 29

Mrs. Burden: Do the medical men need to be taught midwifery? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 30

E. G. White: They have no business with it; yet it might be necessary that they have the information. There has got to be a decided change in the treatment of the women. Case after case has been brought to me where the women have lost their virtue because men physicians have declared that they should do this and that, which demanded a dangerous familiarity. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 31

Mrs. Burden: The question has been asked, What will those men do who go to foreign fields, if they have not this knowledge? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 32

E. G. White: Well, perhaps it will be necessary to have this knowledge. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 33

Mrs. Burden: Cannot women do this work? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 34

E. G. White: It is the very work that women should do. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 35

Mrs. Burden: In the dissecting work, ought the men to cut up the bodies of women? 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 36

E. G. White: I cannot tell particulars. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 37

Mrs. Burden: Some things you can tell us, and some things you cannot. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 38

E. G. White: I know that when young men take upon them the right to deliver women in childbirth, they are not working in God's order. It is going contrary to the instruction the Lord has given His people. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 39

Mrs. Burden: We will leave you now. We have asked you these questions that we might know what is the right thing to do. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 40

E. G. White: I hope you will stand firmly for this thing, and work to the point. Our men physicians have got to stop meddling with women at the time of childbirth. I know that women can get through this time without the aid of men. 25LtMs, Ms 76, 1911, par. 41