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The Pitfalls of "Mental Tests."

1911; BMJ; Volume: 1; Issue: 2613 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/bmj.1.2613.195

0959-8138

C. S. Myers,

Educational and Psychological Assessments

PITFALLS OF " MENTAL TESTS."[ THx BiTTis 195 seek out death.Again, when it is thought that a mere inspection of a body within twenty-four hours of the sup- posed death is sufficient to warrant a doctor in declaring life is eitinc&, ignorance of the difficulties in the determina- tion of the presence of or absence of life can be the only excuse.In most cases a layman's testimony is sufficient., but in a few the tatk would test the best of us.The demands of the bill have already been criticized, and now it may well be asked, EHow'do you propose to carry out the objects the promotors of the bill have at heart?Now, given a local register in the hands of the medical offioer of health, I would suggest the following:1.When a death occurs the relatives to notify the police.2 The police in case of a natural death to inform the doctor who was last in attendance.3. The doctor, if he is satisfied, to sign a certificate and to.give it to the police officer to take to the local medical officer of health's office, where it should, if in order, be registered. 4. The medical officer of health to grant a burial certi- ficate and the police officer to convey it to the relatives.(In case the doctor declines, or there are some difficulties in the way of signatures, then the medical officer of health should prosecute inquiries and make or order to be made a proper medical examination of the body of the deceased.)5.In case all be explainable by natural causes, the medical officer of health should then issue a burial certificate; if no such explanation can be put forward, the medical officer of health should ask the coroner to under- take the necessary legal inquiry.6.In all cases of accident, suicide, etc, the police officer to communicate direct with the coroner, who would call for the services of the medical officer of health for the district to aid him in every way through his special medical officer to find out the cause or causes of death.Sach is the outline of the scheme I would advocate, and I venture to think that the objects of the promoters of the Coroners Bill would be attained in a far simpler and less costly way than that put forward.If, however, the State requires the application of a test as to whether a body is alive or dead, the State should be prepared to pay for the performance of an operation of skilJ, be it venesection or anything else, and the proper person to perform such is the general practitioner in attendance during the life of the deceased.In conclusion, all I have to say is that those who are concerned in this matter should soon take steps to put into shape their own ideas and present them to the proper authorities before the bill is again proceeded with, and so avoid increasing difficulties in obtaining amendments.