Says M. D. Jobs Are Awarded on Merit Alone

Jewish physicians in Queens, who a year ago complained that they were not adequately represented in the proposed appointment list to the staff of the new Queens General Hospital, will receive scant encouragement from Dr. Sigmund S. Goldwater, Hospitals Commissioner, it was learned yesterday.

Staff appointments for the hospital, the opening of which has been long delayed, are now about to be made, but the original appointment list, approved by Dr. Goldwater’s predecessor, Dr. J. G. William Greeff, has been discarded.

“I do not believe in staff appointments made on the basis of race, nationality or class,” Dr. Goldwater said. “I have no patience with delegations urging the appointment of Jewish doctors, Negro physicians or Italian practitioners. I refuse to instruct my committee on the selection of appointees to submit names of doctors who are Jewish, Negro, Italian, Irish or Norwegian.

MERIT ALONE TO COUNT

“I will consider any applications or proposals for appointment from any physician or reputable medical group solely on the merits of professional ability. I can recognize no other principle in staff appointments to any institution under my jurisdiction except medical principles.

“If he is qualified in a medical sense he will be considered, no matter what his color, race or nationality. No other considerations than professional merit are of interest to me,” Dr. Goldwater concluded.

Dr. Goldwater stated his views in response to inquiries as to whether he would increase the percentage of Jewish physicians on the list from the proportion proposed in the list approved by Dr. Greef, and whether he would need the request of representatives of Negro physicians in Queens that they be properly represented in staff appointments.