BLINDED FOR LIFE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 257, 11 August 1933, Page 8

BLINDED FOR LIFE.

ACID IN BABY’S EYES. A baby girl who was blinded with acid immediately after birth at a hospital at Birkenhead, England, was the plaintiff through her father in a claim for damages at Liverpool recently. The child was Ivy Greta, daughter of John Lee, and the defendants were the Birkenhead Corporation, the medical superintendent of the hospital and a nurse. After consultation in Mr Justice Atkinson’s room it was announced that the case had been settled. Counsel for the child said that ten minutes after birth she had nitric acid placed in her eyes and was blinded for life. He withdrew all allegations against the corporation and the doctor. The terrible accident was in no way due to any breach of duty by the doctor. The corporation had met the case generously, said counsel. The child' would go to one of those excellent institutions, the Sunshine Homes for Blind Babies, and be educated and trained for a profession, and they would do their best tio get her employment. In the event of her being unable to obtain employment, the Birkenhead Corporation would - pay her the maximum amount under the Blind Persons Act without any obligation upon any relatives to contribute. Both the corporation and the doctor had contributed toward the costs. Counsel for the corporation said this was not an eleventh hour offer, but was made months ago. Mr Justice Atkinson said a very unfortunate slip by the nurse led to these terrible consequences. Ho expected everybody was as sorry for the nurse as for the child. The settlement was a satisfactory ending to a very sad case.