Tonsillectomy inquestion
(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) MELBOURNE. Australian doctors are questioning the almoststandard procedure of removing tonsils from children suffering from recurrent throat infections. Many believe that the “ritual’’ of tonsillectomy may be exposing children to unnecessary risks and emotional distress. Melbourne University’s professor of otolaryngology at the Eye and Ear Hospital, Professor Graeme Clark, said that too many tonsils were taken out for inadequate reasons. “Children die from tonsillectomy, and this is tragic if the operation was unnecessary,” he said. “The indications should be much more rigid — there are many children who begin school and get a virus in their throat and have their tonsils whipped out. This is no justification.” The mortality risk — up to one death per 1000 operations. according to Professor Clark — is only one of the reasons why tonsillectomy is being challenged.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750908.2.53
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33942, 8 September 1975, Page 6
Word Count
136Tonsillectomy inquestion Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33942, 8 September 1975, Page 6
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.