People v. Handzik

• Decision Date: 27 November 1951
• Docket Number: No. 31906,31906
• Citation: 102 N.E.2d 340,410 Ill. 295
• Parties: PEOPLE v. HANDZIK.
• Court: Illinois Supreme Court

Page 340

102 N.E.2d 340

410 Ill. 295

PEOPLE v. HANDZIK.

No. 31906.

Supreme Court Of Illinois.

Nov. 27, 1951.

Frederick J. Bertram, of Chicago, for plaintiff in error.

Ivan A. Elliott, Atty. Gen. and John S. Boyle, State's Atty. of Chicago (John T. Gallagher, Rudolph L. Janega, Arthur F. Manning, and William J. McGah, Jr., all of Chicago, of counsel), for the People.

MAXWELL, Justice.

Plaintiff in error, E. O. Handzik, also known as Esther O. Hankzik, was tried and convicted of a violation of the Medical Practice Act upon information filed in the county court of Cook County. She comes here directly from that court by writ of error to review the verdict of the jury and the sentence to pay a fine of $500. Direct review lies to this court because she directly challenged the constitutionality of sections 24, 36, and 37 of this act in the lower court and has properly preserved those questions for review here.

It appears from the evidence that plaintiff in error, who will be hereinafter referred to as defendant, was a woman about 60 years old at the time of the hearing, was a native of Sweden, had been in this country about 27 years and was a citizen. She resided in her second-floor apartment in the city of Chicago with her husband, Frank Handzik. She claimed to be a faith healer or healing minister ordained by the Central Baptist Church of Chicago and was a member of a sect which believed in and practiced divine or faith healing. The prosecuting witness, Mrs. Frances Dickerson, was an investigator for the Department of Registration and Education of the State of Illinois. She testified that on November 15, 1949, she went to the defendant's apartment to investigate a complaint which the Department had received about one Dr. Frank Handzik; that defendant answered the door, witness gave her the alias of Bertha Baker, and asked to see Dr. Frank Handzik; that defendant advised her that Dr. Frank Handzik was not in and asked her if she wanted a treatment; that she replied in the affirmative and defendant then told the witness that she was Dr. E. O. Handzik, that she did the same kind of work as Dr. Frank Handzik and invited her into the apartment; that defendant then asked her where she had her pain and the witness told her it was between her shoulders, and defendant told her she had arthritis; that defendant then asked her if she believed in God and when witness replied that she did defendant requested a donation of $4 for her church ans told witness that she would give her a treatment, that she too had had arthritis and had cured herself. The witness then described the treatment given to her which consisted of repid inhaling, exhaling, and drinking two glasses of water, one described as 'holy' water and the other as 'atomic' water; that defendant also went through the rapid breathing process and stated that the purpose was to make one hot and make contact with God easier; that defendant placed her hands on the witness and prayed; that defendant told the witness that she also had machines, the 'Estemeter' and 'Vita Ray' machines, and if witness did not get relief from the treatment that she would apply 'hot wires.' The witness also testified that defendant gave her a printed card bearing the names of Dr. Esther O. Handzik and Dr. Frank A. Handzik, underneath which names was printed 'Christian Psycho-physicians,' and showing the address, phone number and office hours. This card was introduced in evidence. The defendant testified that she believed in, had studied and practiced divine healing through prayer as a minister of her church. She denied charging a fee but admitted that she accepted a donation for her church and stated that this donation was usually divided, 10 per cent to the church and 90 per cent to her. She denied making any physical examination or diagnosis. She denied giving the witness the card but stated that she knew they were in the house. She stated that she was employed as a tailor to earn her living and did not depend upon any income from healing treatments for that purpose.

The jury found her guilty under counts 3, 4, and 5 of the information and made no finding under counts 1 and 2. Count 3 charged that defendant, on November 15, 1949, in the city of Chicago, County of Cook, 'not then and there possessing in full force and virtue a valid and existing license issued by the authority of the State of Illinois to practice the treatment of human ailments in any manner, * * * did then and there unlawfully suggest, recommend and prescribe the loud and rapid inhaling and exhaling and the drinking of water for the relief and cure of the supposed ailment of Frances Dickerson, also known as Bertha Baker, with the intention of receiving therefor a fee in the sum of four ($4.00) dollars.' Count 4 alleged that the defendant, on November 15, 1949, not possessing a license of the State of Illinois to practice the treatment of human ailments in any manner, did then and there 'within the said County of Cook, unlawfully attach the title Doctor, Physician, Surgeon, M.D. or some other words or abbreviation to his name indicative that he was engaged in the treatment of human ailments as a business, to wit: 'Did then and there unlawfully attach the title 'Doctor' to her name, indicative that she was engaged in the treatment of human ailments as a business, by informing patient that she was 'Dr. E. O. Handzik,' all in violation of Section 24 of an Act,' etc. Count 5 alleged that the defendant, on November 15, 1949, not possessing a license of the State of Illinois to practice the treatment of human ailments in any manner, did then and there 'within the said County of Cook unlawfully maintain an office for examination or treatment of persons afflicted * * * with any ailment, to wit: Did then and there unlawfully maintain an office for the examination and treatment of persons afflicted and supposed to be afficted with any ailments, at 2573 Lyndale Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, all in violation of Section 24 of an Act,' etc.

Defendant's written motions to quash the information, for a directed verdict, in arrest of judgment and for a new trial were all overruled by the court.

Defendant first contends that section 24 of the Medical Practice Act (Ill.Rev.Stat.1949, ch. 91, par. 16i,) is unconstitutional because (1) the general language used in section 24 is restricted in its operation by the exceptions made by section 37 of the same act and is therefore void, and also because section 24 provides for punishment for 'any' person, which term includes those exempted by section 37; (2) the subject matter of section 24 is not embraced or expressed in the title of the act; (3) the penalties authorized by section 24 inure to the Department (section 36) which is in effect an appropriation or diversion of public funds in violation of sections 16 to 20, article IV of the Illinois constitution, S.H.A.; (4) the provisions of section 24, providing punishment for any person using the titles 'Doctor' and 'Physician,' violate the due process clause and constitute an abridgement of the privileges of citizens of the United States: (5) section 24 violates and infringes upon religious freedom.

Section 24 of this act provides, in substance, that if any person shall hold himself out to the public as being engaged in the diagnosis or treatment of human ailments; or shall suggest, recommend or prescribe any form of treatment with the intention of receiving any fee or gift, or any compensation whatsoever; or shall profess to heal any ailment or supposed ailment of another; or shall maintain an office for examination or treatment of any persons afflicted with any ailment; or shall attach the title Doctor, Physician, Surgeon, M.D. or any other word or abbreviation to his name, indicative that he is engaged in the treatment of human ailments as a business; and shall not then possess in full force and virtue a valid license issued by authority of this State, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment in the county jail, or by both fine and imprisonment.

Section 36 provides that all such fines shall inure to the Department.

Section 37 provides that this act shall not apply to certain named classes of persons, including 'persons treating human ailments by prayer or spiritual means as an exercise or enjoyment of religious freedom.'

Defendant's contention that section 24 is invalid because the general language used therein is repugnant to section 37 is untenable. It is an elementary rule of statutory construction that all the parts of an act relating to the same subject should be considered together and not each alone, so that the purpose and intent of the whole act can be ascertained and given effect as consistent provisions to accomplish the purpose intended. The provisions of section 37 merely constitute exceptions to the general provisions of section 24, and when the whole act is read together there is no inconsistency or repugnancy. Mason v. Finch, 2 Scam 223; Burke v. Monroe County, 77 Ill. 610; Thompson v. Bulson, 78 Ill. 277.

There is no merit in the contention that the subject matter of section 24 is not embraced or expressed in the title of the act. The object of the provisions of section 13 of article IV of the constitution, requiring the subject to be expressed in the title of all acts of the General Assembly, is to give information as to the subject with which the act deals, and to prevent joining in one act incongruous or unrelated matters. People v. McBride, 234 Ill. 146, 84 N.E. 865; People v. Williams, 309 Ill. 492, 141 N.E. 296; People v. Jiras, 340 Ill. 208, 172 N.E. 47. The title should express in general terms the purpose of the act, and any provisions germane to that purpose may be inserted so long as they are not inconsistent with or foreign to the general subject. The title of an act is not required to be an index of all its provisions. People v. Sisk, 297 Ill....