BOY'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 10

BOY'S DEATH.

HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

FATHER'S STATEMENT. COMMITTEE TO REPORT. "I repeat that we have nothing to hide," said the Rev. W. (J. Wood, chairman of tile house committee of the Auckland Hospital Board, yesterday afternoon when the hearing of evidence at die inquiry Concerning the treatment at t'le hospital of the eight-year-old son of Mr. O. A. Downie, of 33, Kelvin Road. Rcmuera, was concluded. It was intimated that the findings of the committee would be made public at a later date.

Asked if he cared to make any additional statement, Mr. Downie said that he wished to retract a provisional statement made on Tuesday night and to jay definitely that the admission of his son to the hospital had been delayed. .Regarding the question of the non-calling of die consultant, Mr; Downie said that he firmly maintained that it could quite conceivably have been a case where the _'onsultant's prompt arrival would have meant the difference between life uid death.

When the allegation oT delay in admission was again mentioned bv Mr. Downie, Mr. Wood pointed out that then! was .no opportunity for anyone in the children's ward seeing the child. Naturally the sister or nurse; when the parent arrived with the child, would, tell the parent to take the child to tlie office ior admission. Apparently from Mr. Dowme's own statement, the nurse or sister carried out the usual everyday procedure. If the mother had said that the child was serious, the sister no doubt would have used her common sense and admitted hu/i immediately.

Mr. Downie: That opens up the whole question of admittance. There would have been no trouble for the nurse to have stepped outside aiid looked at !,he child in the taxi.

Dr. E. B. Gunson pointed out that tl.'j only way possible to admit patients in « big institution was through the admitting office. Nurses were not admitting officeis —they had their own duties. Dr. Pezaro's Evidence. Dr. M. G. Pezaro, who was unable to give verbal evidence on Tuesday evening, detailed his .connection with the case, as set out briefly in his written statement. He said he had told Dr. Gould, assistant medical superintendent, that the case was a very worrying one and had suggested that it might be plain anaemia or some form of septicaemia. He had said that a blood count and blood test were essential, and possibly a blood transfusion. He also told Dr. Gould that he was no; sure of bis diagnosis. In reply to Dr. Gunson, the witna-js said he sent the child to the hospital icr a blood test ami examination, and if necessary a transfusion. He did not send the boy in on his own statement ior a blood transfusion. "If Dr. Ludbrook had seen the child it

is doubtful if the case would over h!ivc come before the boaiVl," snid Dr. Pczaio. The whole thing, said Mr. Wood, was that the resident doctor had failed io notify his honorary. This had apparently been caused by rush of work. "Door Wide Open." "I don't think if we sat here a week we would get any more evidence," said Mr. Wood after Dr. I'ezaro had completed his evidence.' "We have nothing to hide; in fact we are more concerned in bringing everything to light. The door is wide open at all time. 7 ' The cojnmittee, Ive ■ said, would deliberate on the evidence that .liad ..been placed before""' it and would later communicate its findings. - After complimenting -Mr. Downie 011 the way he had given his evidence, Mr. Wood moved that the committee should complete its inquiry in camera. "The committee will later report to the board, probably at a special meeting, and the Press will be given due notice," he said.