SEQUEL TO OPERATION AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 226, 21 June 1934, Page 10

SEQUEL TO OPERATION AT SEA

Swab Found in Body

DOCTOR EXONERATED BY CORONER

By Telegraph.—Press Association

Auckland, June 20.

A post-mortem disclosure of a swab in the body of deceased was reported at an inquest held by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.. into the death of John Gillies, aged 26, a single man, assistant steward on the Monowai, who underwent an operation for appendicitis on the vessel on June 9, and who died in Auckland Hospital on June 15. At the opening of the inquest, Mr. Gray, who represented the ship's doctor and the Union Company, asked that the proceedings be taken in camera, as he considered no good purpose could be gained by publicity, but the corOner declined to agree.

Patient in Bad Way.

Robert James Boyd said he was ship’s surgeon on the Monowai. On June 9 deceased was suffering from acute peritonitis arising from chronic appendicitis, and was operated on early in the afternoon. The anaesthetic, which was at first chloroform and later ether, was administered by the chief officer, Mr. Thomas William White, and a steward was assisting generally The patient was in a very bad condition.

“During the operation the patient appeared to be sinking, and I had to leave him to get a hypodermic charged with adrenalin,” witness continued. “He seemed to recover, and so I told the anaesthetist to continue with the anaesthetic. I have since heard that a swab was found in deceased. If that was so it must have slipped in while I was getting the hypodermic, because I laid a swab over the wound while I went to get it. The swab would be made of lint and might be 2lin. by 3iiiu, or even 3in. by sin. I do not know how many swabs I used. A steward. who had assisted at three previous similar operations, prepared them. I asked the steward how many sw?bs there were, but he said he did not know, and we could not wait as the patient was in such a bad condition. The patient at no time made any real progress toward recovery, and I did not expect him to recover.”

Witness added that the inflammatory condition of the peritoneum was too widespread. The presence of the swab would have done him no immediate harm. Later on, if he had recovered from the serious condition brought about by peritonitis, the swab might have made its presence apparent and would then have been removed.

Pathologist’s Evidence.

Dr. Fowler, assistant pathologist at Auckland Hospital, who conducted the post-mortem, detailed the discovery of the swab. He said the cause of death was acute generalised peritonitis and paralytic ileus.

“I would say all the swab might do would be to retard his ultimate recovery, but that it had nothing to do with his actual death,” witness said. “I think he would have died in any case. If the peritonitis had been cleared up the swab would have been discovered.” •

“I think it has been made perfectly clear that the misadventure with the swab in no way caused the death of this unfortunate man,” said Mr. Hunt, in returning a verdict that death was due to acute general peritonitis and paralytic ileus,” He was in a parlous condition when operated on, and there was small chance of his recovery.” Mr. Hunt said he sympathised with the doctor in the matter. He had to carry out difficult operations at a minute’s notice without skilled assistance.