The Integrity of th© Medical Profession - How can It Be Preserved? By LeRoy Long, M.D., F.A.c.s,, Director, The LeRoy Long Clinic Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mr. President, Sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen: I wish to talk to you a few minutes about the importance of preserving the integrity of the medical profession. I want to talk to you about that subject because of the direct relation of the profession to this group and to every other group acting under the auspices of the American College of Surgeons, Integrity means completeness. It means perfection. That being true, it is too much to expect that such a state can be realized in this world. At the same time it would be difficult to find a sound philosopher who would say that it is not a good thing to look forward to as an ideal. In our particular work it is a good thing to have such an ideal as our ultimate goal because the experience of many centuries demonstrates that the usefulness of the medical profession is in direct ratio to its integrity. If that is true, then we ought to do what we can to preserve its integrity. The progress of the .American College of Surgeons, its conquests, its usefulness to the human family depend upon the integrity of th© members of the medical profession, both inside the College and outside of it. The weaknesses of the College, if weaknesses there be; its lack of progress, locally or generally; its lack of usefulness, locally or generally - all these defects are directly traceable to the lack of integrity of the medical profession, both inside the College and outside of it. How can the integrity of our profession be preserved?
