DOCTORS PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 149, 19 March 1936, Page 10

DOCTORS PROTEST

Patients Not “Mauled About By Boys” WELLINGTON HOSPITAL Board’s Full Confidence In Medical Staff A protest against several statements made at the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board on. February 27, a statement that it was not true that any major surgery was performed by house surgeons without supervision, and an. opinion that a remark that patients had been "mauled about by boys” was unjustified and must bring the whole hospital into disrepute, were set out in a letter received from the resident medical .staff of Wellington Public Hospital by the chairman aud considered by the'board at a spec'al meeting last night. “As already several of our number hav e noticed a change in the attitude of some patients in professional matters, we would appreciate an indication as to whether the board has or has not confidence in the residential staff, the letter stated.

The board carried a motion assuring the resident medical staff that no reflection had been cast by the board on their services and expressing the fullest confidence in their professional work.

Consideration of a further letter from the resident staff, received that day by the chairman, was taken in committee.

The fiix-t letter wus as follows :— “We, the house surgeons of the Wellington Hospital. f<el it to he necessary, to voice' a protest against several of the statements made at the last meeting ot the board, and reported in ’The Dominion issue of February 28. “First, it is not true that any major surgery is performed by house surgeons, either junior or senior, without supervision. With the exception of the procedure involved in the recent case under discussion —a procedure regarded by most qualified opinion as minor—no major operation has been performed this year, except with the active assistance, not merely the supervision, of an honorary surgeon. ' . “Secondly, we feel that • the personal reference to Dr. Cable was uncalled for, and that, appearing in print as it did, it. reflects greatly upon his capability and conscientiousness. We would point- out that the board appointed him with full knowledge of his qualifications, and must have considered him suitable for the position.

“Thirdly, the statement that tile patients have been ‘mauled about by boys’ is unjustified, and must surely bring not merely the house surgeons, but the whole hospital, into disrepute. Actually, the youngest house surgeon in the hospital is'qualified from the legal point of view to put up his plate and engage in private practice. Statements such as the above mislead the public, materially injure our standing in the eyes of the patients, reduce confidence, and so lead to lessefficient working of the whole system of staffing. “We hope that -this, letter - will not bel taken as evidence of a - merely rebellious spirit On our, part. But we do.fed -that,.we. are entitled to spine consideration a.nd to -a certain degree of profes- ' sioiiai status, carrying with it some men 'sure of trust’and responsibility. It is only in this way that we can render the board our bei-t service, and only in this way that we can hope to be efficient practitioners ourselves. • . “As already several of our number have noticed a change in the attitude of some patients in professional matters, we would appreciate an indication as to whether the board has or has not confidence in the residential Staff.” The letter was signed by:—Allen G. Rutter, F. L. Clark, M. Boyd-Wilson. K. R. Thomas, M. A. Birks, D. C. J. Clay, G. L. M. Scholefield,. W. N. Campbell. G. B. W. Cowie, J. Willis. “No Wish To Cast Any Reflection.” After reading the letter, the chairman, Mr. F. Castle, said the resident medical staff was entitled to receive the support of tiie board unless the board had a lack of confidence in them. He was not suggesting that the board —the board as a whole —bad made any reflection on the capabilities of the staff in any way. If by inference the resident staff had understood those statements or inferences to be supported by the board, then in his opinion they were quite wrong. “We have this letter to-night asking the straightout question: ’We would appreciate an indication whether the board has or has not confidence in the residential staff,” said Mr. Castle. “I want you to discuss the matter calmly aud give the resident staff the assurance I thiuk is due to them under the circumstances. These resident officers are duly qualified medical practitioners in the service of the Wellington Hospital Board, and are, in my opinion, up to as high a standard as any we have had in this hospital. I do not tliluk that we want it to go out that we wish in any way to east any reflection on them.” Mr. Castle then moved that the board assure the resident medical staff that no reflection liad been cast by the board on their services, and that the board further convey to them that it had the fullest confidence in their professional work. Seconding the motion, Mr. R. Holland said he had not been present at the meeting referred to, and he would like to be dissociated from (lie remarks made. It was not the desire of the Labour members in particular, as he knew them, to upset the harmony. “A Charge Against Labour.” The second letter brought something of a charge against the Labour members, he continued. If that meant the Labour members would use their influence to see these men blacklisted, lie would like the staff to know that .they would not stoop to that. “11 has been kaiil that we meet'as u ei'iucus—we: do Ou policy’ -matters—but we d. not discuss persons. If anyone has anything to say let them come to me as secretary. No one oilier tillin ’the Labour members can speak for them.” Mrs. S. Snow said that at the nieetin’g referred to she did not refer in any way to the resident staff. She supported the proposal to a full-time surgeon In charge of thex students. She was merely stating what women had said lb her. Mrs. Snow said there was one. student at. the hospital'-she bad known since be was three:years of age, and if they came to her she would say, “Go away, you, are only a boy.” Most women outside the hospital looked upon them as students and not as fully qualified men. “In my opinion, in whatever was said there was no intention of belittling the work of. the bouse surgeons.” said Mr, J. Glover. No one had any idea that any-house doctor would take it personally. He ,vas sure they had the board’s fullest confidence, ‘ “I think a little more -hits been made-of if .tiihii'/should kayo been,/ lie said.'in supporting the mbtfoii. ' ‘ Referring to the second letter receiv- J

ed, he said a committee should be set up to investigate it. The sooner the thing was fathomed to the bottom the better it would bo for everyone concerned. “I am at a real loss uo understand tiie interpretation the house surgeons have put ou the discussion which took place here,” said Mr. A. W. Croskery. “The Press reports stated that in any remarks I was making about the two doctors I was not making any remarks against them as men. I was merely treating the number of years they had in the’professlon over the work they did.”

Mr. Croskery said he reserved the right to discuss anything he thought was not just up to the mark. It was a duty he and others owed as trustees to the general public. There had never been any suggestion ■ that the house surgeons did not perform all their duties in a perfectly capable manner. “AH we did say was that in order to protect the house surgeons and give them greater assistance in their work it was necessary that we should have a highly skilled surgeon here whom they should xvork under. The board's idea has been one <i£ assistance in every detail.

“I thiuk they have mistaken the real essence of tiie remarks that were made, and got a little angry probably. We have offered them the practise they require, but we must also see that every safety is given to the patients that come into this institution.” Mr. Croskery added that he thought the resident staff would have been much wiser liad they asked the chairman of the board or some of the members to come along and have a talk with them. He was rather surprised at some of the signatures, because he thought the house surgeons had been treated very fairly. He supported the resolution very heartily, but was sorry the board had to pass the resolution, because the house-surgeons might have gone and consulted the chairman personally. ‘Tliis is Only Slinging Mud." Mr. G. Y. Berry said he thought the meetings had taken rather a political turn since the new board came in. Mr. Croskery: A point of order, Mr Chairman. This is only slinging mild. We have not discussed polities. Mr. Castle said the speaker must Confine himself to the. motion before the meeting,;- . ■Mr. Berry said lie was not casting refit'ciions on members. The motion was then put and carried unanijriously. In suggesting tliat tiie second letter be considered in committee, a course which tiie board adopted, Mr. Castle said- that in view of tiie anonymous correspondence in the papers he was satisfied due justice was not being done to tiie board There was some suggestion that information had been leaking out, and the board bad a right to be. protected.