The Death of Miss Salmond.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 19

The Death of Miss Salmond.

When the death of Miss Salmond was brought before him on Tuesday the Minister for Health said that he had read only "newspaper reports of the " occurrence," but would consider the case further when the " official papers " were received by his Department. He added, however, that " he believed that "a full enquiry had been held by the * Coroner," and generally gave the im? preasion that he regarded that enquiry as sufficient. It is necessary to say very plainly that the Minister is mistaken, .The- accident continue* to

agitate the minds of all sections of the community, and the Minister will be well advised to grant the request of the Member for Timaru for & further and i .ille* investigation The public cannot understand why it was necessary to hold an inquest so soon after the death of the patient; why the police had only five minutes' notice of the opening of the inquest, and the newspapers no notice at all; why the evidence, in a case presenting so much difficulty, had to be prepared in less than two hours; and why the nurse, though the issue was of such grave concern to her, was not represented by counsel. There is also the general question, in all such cases, of the division of responsibility between surgeon and nurse, and nurse and hospital. Finally, people are entitled to know, when they enter any kind of hospital, what protection they have against such accidents, and an enquiry would at least suggest whether the protection they think they have is adequate.