Optomology--A Modern Ethic

Abstract

To the Editor. —Modern developments in the field of ophthalmology have made obvious the need for a new class of practitioner and a new certifying organization. The word ophthalmologist connotes a certain antique professional ethic that has a tradition over a century old. Some of us see the need for a more modern ethic, for a more modern name, and for a new certifying organization. Certification by the proposed Board of Optomology would be limited to those practitioners who convincingly demonstrate that they have abandoned the physician ethic and have adopted the merchant ethic. We modernists have already begun planning for the new Board and there seems to be general agreement on certain minimum merchant qualifications that must be met before candidates are permitted to sit for the written examination: Requirements Advertising. —Each candidate must present newspaper clippings, magazine articles, or TV tapes from the mass media featuring the candidate