46.

She was re-admitted to the hospital, treated and soon discharged as cured.

My bitter resentment over the handling of this case that 80 easily could have led to a tragedy promoted me at that time to write a letter to the chairman of the respective Medical Board. This is what I said:

"My dear doctor: Your Board has recently turned down the request for a therapeutic abortion of Mrs. X, a request that was supported by Dr.Y (a member of your staff) as well as myself. It seems evident that the fear of religious or legal dis- approval took precedent over humanitarian and medical indications.

A touch of cruelty asems to have been added in this case by forbidding the operation at the last moment, just after the pat- ient had been prepared for surgery.

Fortunately Nature was in this instance wiser and kinder than your Board. The patient had a miscarriage.

I am deeply disappointed with the attitude of my colleagues, an attitude that is, of course, welcome to the illegal abortionistë. Sincerely yours,

Harry Benjamin, M.D."

Before sending the letter, I felt it was only fair to show it to my esteemed colleague, who had in such fine humanitarian and truly ethical spirit concurred with mo in this case.

He asked me,

as a favor to him, not to send the letter. It would do no good and only cause "bad blood".

And so, the letter remained undelivered and a rebel against superstition and injustice had to make his concession.

Incidentally, I found out later on that the Medical Board that decided this patient's fate was composed of three surgeons and one medical man. No psychiatrist was consultea, the only one who could have appraised the emotional state of the young woman with competence.

Returning to the writer of the following article, a few words of explanation may be in order.