Doctor for trial over boy's death

Press, 15 July 1982, Page 4

Doctor for trial over boy's death

A Brisbane doctor has been committed for trial in the High Court in Christchurch on November 8 on a charge of manslaughter relating to the death of a boy. aged 11. after an operation in Greymouth on March 16 last year, in which he was the anaesthetist for the operation.

The defendant. lan Raban McDonald, aged 56. elected trial bv jurv on a charge that on March 16 last year, at Grevmouth. he killed Carl Lewis Gomulski while acting as an ■ anaesthetist, and by omitting without lawful excuse to perform a legal duty towards the boy. thereby committing manslaughter. After hearing depositions of evidence of prosecution witnesses, during two days and a half, in the District Court. Judge Fraser held that there was sufficient evidence to commit the defendant for trial. Defence was reserved. Bail was not opposed by the Crown and was granted in the sum of $5OOO in the defendant's own recognisance. with a similar surety.

Counsel (Mr R. G. Collins, of Wellington) said in seeking renewal of bail that tlje defendant had come voluntarily from his home in Brisbane’ to attend the hearing, and no difficulty was anticipated in his return to Christchurch for the trial. Mr C. W. James, also of Wellington, appeared with Mr Collins for the defendant. Mr N. W. Williamson appeared with Mr P. A. Bovce for the Crown.

The Crown alleged that the defendant caused the boy's death bv a series of errors in which the boy was deprived of oxygen because a carbon dioxide tap had been turned oh inadvertently, instead of oxygen, on the anaesthetic machine.

Portions of evidence of the last prosecution witness called yesterday, William John Watt, an anaesthetist, were suppressed upon a de l fence objection as to their admissibility.

Dr Watt said anaesthetists should always check their anaesthetic machines and emergency equipment. A check by the defendant would have revealed the

presence of the carbon dioxide cylinder, and that it was turned on.

Unless required for the operation the cylinder should have been turned off. Dr Watt said carbon dioxide cylinders on the machines were uncommon in Australia, less so in New Zealand, and still relatively common in Britain.

Every anaesthetist should make routine checks of chest movements, pulse, blood pressure, blood colour, and machine readings. A colour-blind person would identify each gas by .label, not colour code. Identification by knobs alone was unsafe, and in fact dangerous. Dr Watt said. He said he believed the patient suffered acute deprivation of oxygen for more than seven minutes. This would cause ' irreversible brain damage which would be fatal. Evidence by Detective Inspector N. J. Stokes of interviewing the defendant, in regard to the death, was suppressed on a defence application as to its admissibility.