A BABY'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1927, Page 9

A BABY'S DEATH.

4ATERNTTY CASE CONCLUDED. ' JUDGMENT TO-MORROW. At the conclusion of the evidence in the action in which Nurse Blanche Donald, of Herbert Road. Auckland, claimed £9 11/ for nursing and professional services rendered to Mrs. Clarke, wife of T. Clarke, millhand, of Mamaku, and in which the latter counter-claimed for £2o general damages and £38 special damages, his Worship Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., said he would give written judgment to-morrow.

In his counter-claim against Nurse Donald Clarke alleged that his wife at the time of giving birth to a child, which died- within 2p hours, did not receive the attention which was -eaaonable to expect in such a case, and as a result Jirs. Clarke becar.it seriously ill and }.as since suffertd from acute neurasthenia. In the evidence given during the hearing of the case it was shown that on Mtß. Clarke's arrival at the nursing home she was not questioned, and as she did not complain of pains she was not expected to have the child half an ihour after going into the home. The baby was born on the floor.

After several doctors had given evidence yesterday that there was nothing unusual in a nurse not questioning a patient when she came to a nursing home, and that there was no responsibility upon the nurse to do so, Mr. Dickson, appearing for Nurse Donald, submitted the evidence was overwhelming to show there was no neglect on thpart of Nurse Donald. He contended that the health of Mrs. Clarke was due to the loss of her baby and not to the method of its birth. "Mr. Clarke is claiming damages," said Mr. Dickson, "and he asks for fares to Auckland, board in Auckland, also board for a child at Mamaku. What has that got to do with us? He came down to Auckland to •ee his wife, and because the child unfortunately died he wants to charge Ilis expenses up to my client."

Mr. McKean said he would give a written decision to-morrow. The evidence disclosed circumstances which were very distressing to Mrs. Clarke, but he would have to conclude that she had suffered bo physical injury through the method of birth of the child. '"Early in the case I was surprised to learn that the standard of care required of a nurse on the admission of a patient to a maternity hospital was not very hi.srn." said his Worship, who added that there was only one decision he could arrive at on the evidence. He had to decide whether the conduct of Nurse Donald had reached the common standard of .what might be expected of a nursj under the as given in evidence. *nd there was only one conclusion he could draw.

# Mr. Dickson: Would your Worship indicate the judgment "will not go •gainst Nurse Donald?

His Worship (smiling): You will find .that on Thursday.