Nurse Denies Indecency Charges

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30212, 17 August 1963, Page 15

Nurse Denies Indecency Charges

(N.Z Press Association) DUNEDIN, Aug. 16.

A complete denial of any acts of indecency or improper favouritism towards patients was made by Charge Nurse “X” when he gave evidence on the nin t h day of the Cherry Farm Hospital inquiry today.

The inquiry, being conducted by Mr W H Reid, a Dunedin solicitor, who is the c.strict inspector under the Mental Heal h Act. as into allegations made about a member of the staff (identified as “X”* and any other matter that may be disclosed Counsel appearing are Mr R J Gilbert, for a number of s aff. former staff and patients: Mr G S Orr. of Wellington. appointed by the Minister of Health to assist the inquiry: Mr J. B Deaker who appears for the Mental Hospitals Division, the h >spital and the State Services Commission: Mr M Joel for "X”: and Mr H I. Bowler, tor the Public Service Association. Mr Reid has ruled that names of witnesses and

names in evidence should not be published and letters have been used to identify witnesses. Medical evidence given on the reliability of patients, after they have given evidence, was again suppressed Opening the case for his client. Mr Joel said: "X" completely denied all charges of indecency or indecent acts

"He further completely denies all charges of acts which might be considered indicative, in an Anglo-Saxon community, of indecency on other occasions.”

It was admitted. Mr Joel said, that over a long period of years “X” might have made some errors in medication.

“X" had difficulty in clearing his name. Mr Joel said ‘How can anyone dispose of a farrago which is a broth of distortion and downright lies stirred up by envy, jealousy. malice and bigotry.” Mr Joe) described the allegations as “a vigorous and vicious attempt to villify and degrade this man. an attempt to destrov him morally and oSvs’cally. and in the end, to bring him to his death bv -hanging him with things of which ar no time has he been guilty "

In evidence, “X” said he

entered nursing in 1947 and became a charge nurse in 1957.

Mr Joel: What have you to say about allegations of your committing acts of indecency or acts which might be taken as indicative of indecency?— I deny them in intent and fact.

Mr Joel detailed allegations made by patients and nurses in evidence. "X” said they were “fabrications” and it was “utterly incomprehensible” why they should have made the'allegations. He also denied showing “improper favouritism” to patients. "X” produced a list of patients to whom he had given gifts. He said some of the gifts were necessaries and clothing not available from the hospital and had been bought with his own money. In answer to Mr Gilbert, “X” said he thought it was “quite in order” for a patient to travel to Seacliff Hospital by public transport to visit him. He thought approval had been given for the patient's visits.

He denied being undulv emotionally Involved with patients

“X” said that with a doctor’s permission he had taken three patients to his home to do jobs. He said he was surprised a doctor should say

these patients had homosexual tendencies because none of them had these tendencies.

Only on one occasion had a patient’s complaint about his conduct been referred to him, he said. Until a previous inquiry at the hospital he had not been informed of complaints by staff about his conduct.

“X” defended his system of showing some favouritism to patients who were helpful to nurses. “I am dealing with people, not articles of inanimate' objects," he said. There had been occasions when he had put his arm round patients when they were upset.

Questioned by Mr Orr. “X" denied kissing patients, fondling them, smuggling things to them when they were in seclusion or taking them to his home without proper permission. In evidence, a staff doctor said of “X": “He is probably one of the most reliable nurses we have in this hospital. His treatment of patients is always fair. “As regards his moral conduct in the ward, he has always been irreproachable I cannot recollect his ever using a swear word.” The inquiry was adjourned u_tii Monday.