DEATH OF WOMAN: DOCTOR FOR TRIAL

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 3

DEATH OF WOMAN: DOCTOR FOR TRIAL

t.Vcw Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, October I.

Bruce Wyville Rutherfurd, aged 47, a medical practitioner, today was committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter after a Lower Court hearing at Stratford.

The Crown alleges Rutherfurd caused die death of a woman, whose name was suppressed, on or about July 20 last, at Stratford, by unlawfully using on her a uterine sound widi intent to procure a miscarriage.

Mr J. P. Quilliam appeared for the Crown. Mr J. R. P. Horn, of New Plymouth, and Mr C. E. H. Pledger, of Hastings, represented Rutherfurd. Mr L. Taylor, of Hawera, appeared for the dead woman’s husband. The hearing today was before Mr A. W. Yortt, S.M.

The first witness, whose name was suppressed, said he became friendly with the deceased. They formed a close attachment She told him later she could be pregnant. The witness said he had known Rutherfurd for many years. He had been a very igood friend to him and he regarded him as a very good doctor. On July 20 he rang Rutherford and arranged an appointment for 8 p.m. With the deceased he went to Rutherfurd’s surgery in Stratford. The witness said Rutherfurd asked her if she was pregnant. “I think she told the doctor she didn’t know whether she was or whether she was talking herself into it” Rutherfurd asked witness to leave the surgery and to I come back about 10 p.m. I The witness said that at: 9.40 p.m. Rutherfurd told him he could take the woman away. When he saw her in' the surgery she was lying on a couch. She appeared to be coming out of an anaesthetic. Rutherfurd told him the woman had been pregnant, said the witness. Rutherfurd told him that by the time they got home she would be quite conscious. Carried To Car Rutherfurd carried her to the car, witness said. They then left for her home. She was peaceful for part of the journey, but she became rest-

less and moved around in the car. When witness asked her if she had a headache, she nodded. When he carried her to her home she was unconscious. He put her on a couch in the kitchen and stayed with her until 4 a m. She showed no signs of regaining consciousness. The witness said he called at the house about 7.30 a.m. on July 21. She looked exactly as he left her. There were two neighbours there and he spent most of the day with her.- Her eyelids and legs were moving, but she did not t peak. He telephoned Rutherfurd about 10.30 a.m. and told him the woman was still unconscious. Rutherfurd said it took some people longer to recover from the anaesthetic. Rutherfurd said she should stay in bed for the rest of the day. Advice Sought Just after 3 p.m. he tried to reach Rutherfurd by telephone but he could not locate him. said the witness. Then a neighbour in the house sent for Dr. McKenzie, who arrived after 4 p.in. He sent the woman to hospital where she died. On July 24, the witness continued, he saw Rutherfurd, who told him he did not think anything he had done would have precipitated the matter. lan Sword McKenzie, a i

medical practitioner, of Patea, and medical superintendent of Patea Hospital, said that when he examined the woman she was deeply unconscious. He called in Dr. Atkinson, of Hawera Hospital. They concluded that the womn had a brain condition, which was causing her unconsciousness, i There were two puncture ‘ marks in the region of her i right elbow. There was evidence of vaginal bleeding. McKenzie said he performed a lumbar puncture. The spinal fluid was blood stained. After the lumbar puncture spontaneous breathing ceased, and artificial ventilation was commenced, first with an anaesthetic machine, and then with a respirator. This treatment was maintained until she died at 2.30 a.m. on July 23.

Cause Of Death Thomas Oliver Atkinson, medical superintendent of Hawera Hospital, said he telephoned Rutherfurd and told him the woman was unconscious in hospital. Atkinson said Rutherfurd told him he could not explain the patient's unconscious condition. He said when she left him she was capable of walking to a car. Leo Sefton, pathologist at Wanganui Hospital, said he performed a post-mortem ex amination of the dead woman. The brain showed changes associated with an increase in pressure inside the skull. There was a rounded area of hemorrhage. The vessels at the base of the brain were normal. The brain hemorrhage was not the type which occurred as a result of disease. Sefton said deceased had been a healthy young woman who had borne children, but had not been pregnant just before she died. He said the hemorrhage was caused by a softening of the brain resulting from circulatory collapse after the administration of an anaesthetic to introduce an instrument into the womb.