DEATH OF LITTLE GIRL

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 62, 7 December 1926, Page 3

DEATH OF LITTLE GIRL

DUE TO MISADVENTURE AT HOSPITAL Mr. E. Page, S.M., presided as Coroner at an inquest yesterday concerning the death of Jean Ethel Greaves (aged 10 years), daughter of Walter John Greaves, driver, of Petone, which took place at the Wellington Public Hospital on November 30. Dr. P. P. Lynch, Government Pathologist, gave evidence that lie had examined the body and found that death was due to peritonitis, the result of ulcerations. The ulcerations were caused by a solution of saline which was being administered, and which overflowed, being too hot. Usually about a pint of saline, at a temperature of 125 to 130 degrees, was administered, at a slow rate so that it could be absorbed. In this case the time factor was at fault. Owing to a defect in the apparatus the whole quantity was given in a short time, and he understood there was a certain amount of leakage. He did not say the apparatus was defective, but the working of it, as it might have been inadequately or ineffectively adjusted. Dr. K. L. Button, house surgeon at the hospital, said that deceased had been admitted on November 23 suffering from appendicitis. She was operated on the same evening, and on her return to the ward from the operating theatre the routine saline injection treatnient was given. Later on, the same might, the sister reported that the child had been burnt during the administration of the saline. He ordered the necessary treatment. ’1 he next morning the child’s condition was good, but that afternoon she began to show signs of shock. Her condition remained very much the same till the following Monday, when in the afternoon she became rapidly worse. Dr. Usher saw her, ano an immediate operation was considered advisable. After the operation her condition was low. She was given a blood transfusion, but did not rally, and died shortly after 5 a.m. Witness further Stated’ that it appeared there had been trouble with the apparatus tn administering the saline. The tube had blocked, and in adjusting the flow to overcome (he block the rest of the saline came through too quickly. The operation for appendicitis tVas successfully performed. Dr. T. N. Usher, a member of the medical staff at the hospital, who pet" formed the operation for appendicitis, said the child left the operating table in a satisfactory condition. The subsequent condition of the child he considered was wholly due to burning. Nurse G. B. Watson, who said that she was a pupil nurse, stated that she prepared and administered the saline solution. At midnight she saw that it was not running, and in regulating the screw the saline came a rush, displacing the tube. Later the child complained of soreness, and on examination witness found that she was scalded-

Matron L. W. Stott gave evidence that Nurse Watson was capable and verv conscientious, and that she was quite qualified to administer this particular treatment.

Dr. D. McD Wilson, medical superintendent at the hospital, said he had ordered a post-mortem examination. Though there were burns and ulcerations, there was no evidence that the peritonitis was not due to natural causes. The Coroner said that the evidence seemed to show that the unfortunate death of the little girl was due to misadventure. The equipment appeared to be the standard equipment, and the administration of the injection was attended to bv a mtrse who bad experience in such duties. He found that deceased died in the Public Hospital on November 30, as the result of burns, accidentally received while being treated after an operation with a saline injection.