CLAIM FOR £1750 DAMAGES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24640, 9 August 1945, Page 6

CLAIM FOR £1750 DAMAGES

BURNS BY X-RAYS ALLEGED CASE TO CONCLUDE TO-DAY • The third day of the case In which Bernice Reddecliflfe. aged 18 years, of Hororata, is claiming £1750 damages and medical and travelling expenses from fee North Canterbury Hospital Board ended yesterday with the addresses of counsel concluded. Mr Justice Northcrcft will address fee jury when fee hearing resumes this morning. It Is alleged that in Xray treatment for a wart or corn on tne sole of her right foot, Miss ReddecUffe received X-ray burns which ultimately necessitated the excision of an area of skin and a graft being takenfromher left calf, leaving a considerable depression. Mr T. A. Gressonand Mr K. A, Gough are appearing for fee plaintiff, and Mr G. G. G. Watson, of Wellington, and Mr A. C. Perry for fee defendant. , When the cross-examination of Charles Frederick Hines, technician In the radiology department of the Christchurch Hospital, was continued yesterday ‘'morning, witness said Dr. P. C. Fenwick (former head of fee department) and himselt considered corns were similar to a mountain coming out of fee sea, the base being wider under the surface. When Mr Gresson said such a theory would converuently explain the treatment with X-rays of a larger area than necessary on Miss Reddecliffe’s foot, witness replied: In* not here to hedge or lie. He said he disagreed with a standard work by Andrews on diseases of the skin, produced by Mr Gresson, which said corns were like an Inverted cone Jn shape. George Emmanuel Roth, a physicist, gave evidence on the measurement ox X-rays and of his computation of a table for the X-ray machine at the Christchurch Hospital to enable variations in strength and time to be calculated according to fee applicator used. William Maxwell Manchester, surgeon In charge of the plastic surgical unit at the Burwood Hospital, described the operation In which a graft was taken from fee calf of Miss Reddecllffd's left leg to the sole of her right foot, which had not healed. This involved four operations—preparing the graft to be taken; covering the raw surface left and the flap to the excised area of root (fee foot being held to the calf by plaster of Paris): fee separation of the flap from the calf once it had taken and final tidying up. , Joseph John Brownlee, surgeon m charge of the plastic unit when it was under military control, and formerly consultative plastic surgeon to the Army. Navy, and Air Force, also gave evidence of being called to examine Miss Reddecllffe’s condition before the skin graft. A sound repair had been made, he said. The pathologist’s report on the skin excised from Miss Reddecliffe s foot was consistent with normal X-ray treatment, apart from the ulceration noted, he said. Charles Wynn Squire Jerram, surgeon and radio therapist at the Dunedin Hospltal, said he did not consider that the 700 X-ray units applied to Miss. Reddecllffe’s corn would harm normal skin unduly. He had treated such growths with more than 2000 units. The 700 units was the least possible dose likely to effect a cure. Some surrounding skin was usually treated and with this dose It would not be harmed. Witness said' his department at the Dunedin Hospital required patients to sign an undertaking that they would exercise special care In protecting areas treated with X-rays from pressure, irritation, and heat. His predecessor required patients to sign a form clearing the hospital from responsibility for any effects resulting from disobedience of these Instructions. . Mr Watson and Mr Gresson addressed the Court.