Territory of New Mexico v. Lotspeich
Territory of New Mexico v. Lotspeich
Opinion of the Court
OPINION OP THE COURT.
Lotspeich was prosecuted in the court below for unlawfully practicing medicine. .A demurrer was sustained to the ¿mended information and the Territory appeals. Some doubt may exist as to whether the right of the Territory to appeal on quashed indictments includes-informations but no question being raised by appellee on this point we proceed to consider the appeal on its merits. The information held insufficient, omitting the caption .and supporting affidavit, is as follows:
“Now comes Frank W. Clancy, District Attorney, who-prosecutes in this court on behalf of said Territory of New ¿Mexico, and by way of amended, information, gives the court to be informed and understand that C. F. Lotspeich, whose full first name is to the District Attorney unknown, .on the thirty-first day of August, 1906, at the county aforesaid, did unlawfully practice medicine and -did unlawfully attempt to practice medicine at the county aforesaid, without first complying with the provisions of an act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico, entitled 'An Act to regulate the practice of medicine in New Mexico,’ which became a law on the 12th day of March 1903, and without being the holder of a certificate entitling him to practice medicine in the said Territory of New Mexico, and in so practicing medicine and attempting to practice medicine, the said C. F. Lotspeich did then and there unlawfully open an office for such purpose, and announce to the public a desire and willingness and readiness to treat the sick and afflicted and to investigate and diagnose the physical ailment and disease known as tuberculosis and consumption, and to suggest, recommend, prescribe and direct for the use of persons, certain drugs, medicines and' appliances for the cure, relief and palliation of said ailment- and disease, with the intent of receiving compensation thereof, from the maker and owner of a certain drug,'medicine, and ointment called “Pulmoline’, of whom the -said C. -F. Lotspeich was -then and there an' agent and employee- and whose name, upon information1 and belief, is alleged to be Pulmoline Company, contrary to-the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the Territory of New Mexico.”
Was the court below right in holding that this information "when measured by the Act of 1903, states no offense? That act (Laws of 1903, C. 40, p. 61-65) subjects to punishment 1 any person who shall practice or' attempt to practice" medicine without first' complying with its provisions and without 'being -the holder of a certificate from the Territorial Board of Health entitling him to practice. There is no contention that the information" fails to state a, lack of this certificate, but the point here urged and sustained by the court below, is, that the information fails to allege facts showing that Lotspeich was engaged in the practice 'of medicine within the meaning of the Act. We are relieved from a discussion of what the words, “practice of medicine” mean, by the fact that'they are very fully defined in the -statute.' Section 6 of that Act is as follows : ; '
“For' the purposes of this act the words “practice of medicine’ shall mean to open an office for such purpose or to announce to the public or to any individual in any way, a desire or willingness or readiness to treat the sick or afflicted, or investigate or diagnose, or offer to investigate or diagnose, any physical or medical ailment or disease ' of any person, -or to suggest, recommend, prescribe or direct, for the úse of any person, any drug, medicine, appliance of other agency, , whether material or n'ot material, for the cure, relief or palliation of. any ailment or disease of the mind or bodjr, or for the cure or relief--of any wound, fracture or bodily injury or deformity, after having received, or with the intent of receiving therefor,' either directly or indirectly any bonus, 'gift or compensation. Provided, that nothing in this act shall be construed, to prohibit gratuitous services in eases of emergency, or the domestic administration of family remedies, or women from practicing midwifery, and this act shall not apply to surgeons of the United States in the discharge of their official duties.”
Upon the argument in this court and apparently in the court below, the sufficiency of the information under the third subdivision was the principal matter of controversy and the particular criticism was that the information failed to allege payment or expectation of payment from the party treated. We concur with the Court below in holding th-e information, as to the third sub-division of the statute, insufficient, not, however, for the reasons urged (for as we have seen, it is immaterial from whom the compensation comes) but because there is no allegation of the treatment of any specified person, nor any person at all. which, as we have seen, is a necessary element under this branch of the statute. We are of opinion, however, that the information is sufficient under the first two sub-divisions in that it alleges both the -opening of an office for the practice of medicine and an announcement to the public of a desire, willingness and readiness *to treat the sick.
We hold, therefore, that the trial court erred in holding the information generally insufficient and in discharging the defendant thereon „nd the cause Is accordingly'' reversed and remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO v. C. C. LOTSPEICH
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS' (BY THE COURT). 1. Under the medicine practice act of 1903, (Laws of 1903 C. 40), practice of medicine consists, either (a) in opening an office for such practice or (b) in announcing to the public in some other way, a general desire, willingness or readiness to treat the sick or afflicted or investigate or diagnose the ailments of such, or (c) to suggest, recommend, prescribe or direct for the use of any specified person, any drug, medí, cine, appliance or other agency for the cure of mind or 'body, after having received or with intent to receive therefor any bonus, gift or compensation. 2. Under the first two subdivisions of the statute the actual -treatment of any person need not be alleged'or proved, nor is the receipt of compensation an element. 3. Under the third subdivision it is necessary to allege and prove treatment, or prescription for some -specified person and for pay. 4. Under the third -sub division, it is not necessary that the compensation • for the treatment come from the party treated. It is sufficient should it be received or the services be rendered with intent to receive it from a third party. The facts are stated in the opinion.