PATIENT'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1935, Page 16

PATIENT'S DEATH.

COLLAPSE IN HOSPITAL. FURTHER INQUIRY REFUSED. . A request that the inquiry into tlie death of his soil at the Auckland Hospital 011 August 10 be reopened was made by Mr. G. W. Burgess in a letter which was received by the Auckland Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday. Further inquiry was refused on tho grounds that 110 good purpose could be served by reopening the case. Norman Burgess dieel in the hospital on August 10, and it was alleged by the father and a brother that his tongue was missing before the post-mortem examination. Deceased was to be operated upon for the removal of liis tonsils and a nose obstruction. "I have seen the coroner, Mr. W. R. McKean, and I have asked liim if any good purpose could be eervqd by reopening the inquest,'' said the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace. "He says that the evidence at the inquest disclosed that the tongue was removed in the mor-tuary when the post-mortem was carried out." Dr. J. I'. Hastings: If the evidence conclusively shows that the tongue was removed at the post-mortem there is 110 point in reopening the inquiry, but if the parentis have fresh evidence, then they should be allowed to bring it forward.

[ "I am sick and tired of these dramaI tic allegations against the doctors at | the hospital," id Mr. J. H. Kinnear. | In returning a verdict that death was j due to heart failure while' deceased was j under an anaesthetic, the coroner said I it was most regrettable that unnecessary attention had been drawn to the . details of the post-mortem. Why the allegations had been made, he did riot know. There was nothing unusual or untoward in the way the examination was conducted»and the usual precautions had been taken in administering the araesthetie. On the motion of Mr. Wallace, it was decided that, while the board regretted the unfortunate circumstances of the death, it could see no good reason for reopening the inquiry.