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Monday, July 20, 2020

Dr. B.W. Tugman of Warrensville Fined For Not Registering Births, July 20, 1920

From The Monroe Journal, Union County, N.C., published July 20, 1920

Fined $50 for Failing to Report Births

Raleigh, July 17--The highest fine yet imposed in a local court fcor a violation of the State vital statistics law was imposed during the week on Dr. B.W. Tugman of Warrensville, Ashe County, who was fined $50 and the costs in two cases for failing to report births where he was the attending physician.

The case of Dr. Tugman was aggravated by the fact that last summer he was convicted and given a nominal fine for a similar offense, and in the present instance prosecution was instigated only after repeated efforts had been made to get him to comply with the law.

"It is the inherent right of every baby born in North Carolina to have its birth promptly and properly registered," declared Dr. F.M. Register, state deputy registrar of vital statistics, in commenting on the prosecutions being instituted by his division of the state board of health. "In this case the state board of health has extended its activities to the most north-western county of the state. Its arm is long enough to reach across the mountains and say to the doctors and midwives who are derelict in their duty, 'you must treat every baby right, and register its birth.' Failure to comply with the provisions of the law will not be tolerated, and prosecution will be instituted in all cases of violations, regardless of who may be affected."

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