HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 249, 18 October 1904, Page 2

HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Continued from page five. 1 Judge Ward: But what has the Department got to do with it? Dr. MacQregor: The Minister asked mc to attend. Judge Ward: We are very happy to see you here. But 1 don't understand why you should examine the witnesses. The Department has practically delegated all the powers to the Commission. Dr. MaerC-egor: Very well, sir. Dr. Neil said he lirst communicated with Dr. Scott, stating that he was very dissatisfied with an operation which had taken place on the previous evening, and suggested calling a meeting of the honorary staff to go into the question of abdominal operations. He was proceeding to detail a conversation he had with Mr Garland (chairman of the Hospital Board) on the same subject, but the president ruled that this was not relevant. DR. COLLINS-AND THE WITNESS. A STORMY INTERVIEW. Dr. Neil then described an interview which he had at tne hospital on May 19th with Lr. Collins. He went to tiie hospital, and was told that Lr. Collins wisned to see him. He went to a room, where he found tiie doctor, who said to nun: "Is it true you are trying to set the honorary stau against mc, and are speaking outside?" ''1 replied," continued Dr. Neil, "I am not speaking outside, but I am going to protest against that operation." He sa.id, "WhuL operation?" in angry tones, i advanced nearer to him and said, "That gastric ulcer operation the other night. Ho you thiiiK. 1 am going to stand another performance I'iKe tnat? iou opened that man's intestine and Look out nightsoil while he was sullering from a gastric ulcer. 1 saw murder in South Africa, but the sight of mat did not upset mc as niucn as the sight of that operation. You ignored the opinions of the honorary stall, but you will not ignore mine. Taking a junior to assist you in an urgent operation, as if there was no one else to assist you! You arc inextricably mixed up with the surgical side. You had ■better pull out for a whole month, and leave them alone. Everything you do in this hospital is watched by dozens of unfriendly eyes, and you know it. 1 have lashed out about this to the chair man of the Board, and I am not afraid of you or anyone else." Dr. Neil said he concluded. "Why don't you leave the surgical side alone?" Dr. Collins then said, "I will leave them alone, and you see what will happen, as it did under the old regulations." Dr. Neil said the doctor asked him if he (Dr. Neil) was satisfied with his ear, nose, and throat department. He replied in the affirmative. "Well," replied the doctor, "why can't you let the surgical side alone'? I am keen on surgical work." Dr. Neil said he ther- declared: "Collins, humanity demands that someone should speak in this matter. Now, Collins, I have spat out all that is in my mind, and you know my opinions on the matter. I will let thfs matter drop, as some people might construe further action on my part to personal feeling." "Just then Dr. Pabst came in, and the conversation dropped," concluded the witness. The witness stated that there was a meeting of the honorary staff on August 9 to consider suggestions for the working of the Hospital. He instigated a resolution suggesting that the emergency work should be done by members of the honorary staff. He was suspended next day." He next received a notice (prodneed) to attend a special meeting of the, Hospital Board. Mr MeVeagh: Did you know for what purpose the meeting was called?—l was given no information whatever. Judge Ward: Here is the notice. It gives no information nt all beyond the intimation to be present. Witness said he received a letter of suspension from the Board chairman on August 10, and asked the chairman for an interview, which was refused. Pressed as to the meaning oF the letter, Mr Garland said he was sick of the whole thing, and was almost driven to the asylum. He would not go through what he had gone through during the last six months again for £500. Next day he (witness) wrote to the Board •informing them of the receipt of the letter of suspension and of the* chairman's refusal to grant him an explanation of the charges on, which the suspension was based beyond vaguely stating that it was in connection with what occurred at the meetings on Sunday, the 7th, and Tuesday, the oth. He protested against this treatment, and eskcd for a meeting of the Board to. deal with the question, at which the chairman of the hon. medical stall' should be asked to be present. This was followed by the notice of the special meeting referred to. At that meeting the chairman said Dr. Collins would make his statement iirst. He first of ail cfcarged witness with irregular attendance. as his name had not been regularly entered in the official book. Witness disproved this tdiarge. The n&.vt charge was that he kept Dr. Collins away from a meeting of the sub-cummittee when suggestions were Prepared to be laid before a full meeting of the staff. This was also denied by Dr. Neil, and dropped. Then Dr. Collins brought up the charge that witness had made certain damaging statements to the cliaiiman against him about an operation en May listh, and that witness had stated that Dr. Collins was converting ttie Auck-" land Hospital into a "damned shambles." Witness admitted that he did speak to the ehaiiman about the operation, which he was privileged to do. but he denied using the words "damned shambles" in the way described. At the chairman's requesd hi detailed the operation and the subsequent conversation, stating that he had said "after a few more operations like that, people will speak of the Auckland Hospital as they would speak of a damned shambles.'"' Some more witnesses were called for Dr. Collins, but witness was unable to call the nurwes who were present at the operation. He was finally called upon to resign. At that meeting the witnesses made statements which cast serious imputation upon his Veracity. Concerning the condition of the patient, he had stated that Dr. Collins made two incisions and found one perforation. This tvas found afterwards to be correct. Witnesses, however, stated there were three ulcerations, and that the p?xl<_nt could not have recovered. Thinking he had been treated very unfairly, he went to Wellington and laid the matter before tjie Inspector of Hospitals and the Minister. Judge Ward said part of the narrative would have no bearing on the charges. Mr MeVeagh said a charge was made

that statements were made to Dr. MacGregor which were found to be untrue. I EXAMINATION OF REPORTS. Mr MeVeagh said he would very! much hike to secure a copy of the de-' positions taken at the inquiry before Dr.- MacGregor, and also the official report, upon the exhumation of White's body. .fudge Ward stated that Mr MeVeagh cor.'d be placed in possession of copies of the documents. All parties should have them. Mr Reed said he had notes of the inquiry, but they were not the official one?. Mr MeVeagh suggested that perhaps the Commission eou.d fc.ljourn to give him an opportunity of reading the evidence given at the inquiry and the rer suit of the post-mortem examination of White's body. He proposed to examine Dr. Neil in regard to those matters. Judge Ward replied that they were anxious to give counsel an opportunity of examining these documents, and would adjourn until three This would give the three parties concerned the opportunity of perusing the documents for an hour each. Mr Reed inquired how long the Commission would sit each day. The President: From 10 till 4,:J0, and later if an important examination is taking place. Dr. Savage, who attended the exhumation of White's body on behalf of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, handed the original draft of his report to the Commission The Commission then adjourned until three o'clock to give the parties concerned in the charges an opportunity of going through Dr. MacGregor's notes of the evidence taken at the preliminary inquiry and also the report of the exhumation. (Proceeding.)