At a Convention on Accident Prevention and Life Saving at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1963, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh suggested the establishment of a permanent medical commission. This could provide authoritative opinions based on the scientific study of the factors, particularly the medical ones, underlying the causation and prevention of accidents and keep the techniques of first aid and rescue under review. The Convention arose from the initiative of His Royal Highness, Sir Arthur (now Lord) Porritt, the then President of the College and the late Kurt Hahn, Headmaster of Gordonstoun. It led to the formation of the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention in 1964, sponsored by the then Royal Colleges in England and in Scotland, the British Medical Association and specialist medical societies with an interest in accident and disability prevention. The Commission's essential purpose is to give sound and constructive advice, if necessary after requisite research, on accident prevention on the widest scale. It identifies aspects of medical, physiological and psychological factors of accident prevention which require investigation and research. It responds to requests for medical opinions from Government Departments and outside bodies. It is a medical advisory body, not a pressure group. If and when opinions are forthcoming, or areas of research identified, it is the responsibility of lay societies or Government Departments concerned to ensure adequate implementation, if they see fit. The Commission itself consists of medical members representing the sponsoring bodies and specialist societies but has large numbers of Observers from Government Departments and associate member societies. The interest shown by non-medical professional bodies, lay societies, and Government Departments has always been greatly appreciated. From the start the work of the Commission was undertaken by committees devoted to particular fields, for instance, transport, occupational safety, home and family safety and rescue and resuscitation. These committees have members from many associated disciplines and have always been able to provide sound opinions based on the wide range of expertise available from their membership. (Author/publisher)
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