MISS PORTER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 4

MISS PORTER'S DEATH

Question of delay in § -->- -admission '

OF HOSPITAL BOARD

DR. BAIRD'S SEEVICES TO BE RETAINED.

Z |A.t the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board 'yesterday, the following let--Mw was.read-from.Dr. Baivd,^house.sur]geon :—"Wellington Hospital, 23rd May, /J,923.-^-T/h^. Chajrman,_ Wellington Hospital Board. Dear Sir, —Would you Skindly convey to the board my regrets ■|or my part in the matter of the admisr Jsioii of the late; Phyllis Porter to the Hosv .jpital. I must admit that I did not pay. .Jfe prompt attention to, her needs as was •desirable, .said thereby contributed to the Jflelay in her 'admission 'to Hospital.— sincerely (Signed) J. B; Baud." f 1'1 The chairman said when this matter 'was considered last Friday, it was evident that «■ feeling- of great reluctance Existed amongst members of the board [to take the extreme step of dismissing Dr. Baird. He was one of those who /took that vigw. At the same time, he ■was prepared to do what was right. On /account of ttiat reluctance, it was decided that furtlier consideration should be postponed until to-day. It was felt that i-the situation might solve itself by waiting. He had. not materially altered, his ••view. : The view he took at that time Vas that Dr..' Baird's position had .be■"ijcome iwienab.je in connection with the ,'Jboard.' He had,since consulted Dr. Wil\Son, and the m>edical superintendent did ■iiot agree that- it was absolutely Tinten'jtble for Dr. ,i?aird to remain pn,_the staff:' Therefoi*, he (Mr. Castle) had come to the conclusion that if the medical superint-endant or his deputy were ;. prepared to takje> the responsibility of .•having Dr. Baird! on the staff after what ■ had taken place, -and if in their opinion ,' the. efficiency of the Hospital was not i'ibeing, impaired ill any way, he (Mr. '„ Castle)lAvas-prepared to leave it at that, '.' He did 'not, think anyone wanted to. furv;ther punish Dr. Baird. The publicity ;which had been given to the matter had ■i besji a great punwhment. What had '■'occurred would pro'uably prove salutary from every point cif view—would prove ;;'. beneficial to the woxk of the staff. The 1- fact that incases of „e»ven suspected indifference, there might 'be a public inquiry '{ would probably proira a wholesome deHe moved;--- '■' That Dr. Baird be ■ retained as 1 house surgeon, presided the medical' i- superintendent or bjs deputy is satis- ; fied that the efficiency of the staff is '• not being- impaired ia any way. The other house siirgeons had informed him (Mr. Casfcto) that they had confiflenqo in. Dr. B^aird,, and they natur- , ally felt that he had be en "punished ee-. 'Jverely and sufficiently, a.nd they added j-that as far as they were -concerned his -/; retention would not be p.qejudiciaL (He .^.thought under : the. circumstances ,iHat .'- Dr. Baird>Bhottld.<bß'giveßt an'opportui- ,! ity of retrieving^.his'positUm.'-■'.".,'.:;:■ .'.,. 2 Mr. A r :jJlV'.Hornblow sei'^inded the ma- * tion. „'■•'•-.■-,: --t■'■■'..--,'.,.- |.-■-,-„, '.' Mr. X^;^',Lulw.3ema;t!ked;:;ffiai.;he- :- £ suggested: ftil'iiif; /.last 'meeti^gvthat.'th/ey.----r should stKp,Bn'd*judgmeat' unral'there:^aß; ~ a more '.jsalitt'- 'atmosphere.';; -,33.r,;; •': Baird .'! was not!'e!ntiraly.to:-mame:fof' the' ffs&y. • ■* It was i%;<err6r ■; of-judgment.' -'HH r (Mr; '■ ?-Luke) tHought. _under'all tlhfe circum:' that the boaid !:Y/ps^ justified in ■ ';." keeping Dr. Bafed/ia t&eii 1-Service.. Probi- • ,-° ably the other* "menibers -o£ .the'•:.staff • ■/would benefit by the mistake which had ;' been madel T.'■' ,■ . ■'.. ." '

: Mr. W. Appleton said lie/thought: an • error of judgment had been committed. ,'■■ In -view of the statement of the medical C; superintendent, he agreed with the con- ; ' elusion arrived at .by the -chairman and >' Miv Luke.' :- • : ■ ■ , ;; In reply to a question, Dr. D, M. 3 Wilson, medical superintendent, said he ■t had discussed the matter with Dr, Baird. *Dr. Baird*. stated that he. felt thai .he ££Dr. Baird) wai partly responsible. He * asked Dr. Baird if he would put any- .,■ thing in writing to the board. Dr. Baird $ asked* ,if. he (Dr; .Wilson) .considered that '* .was necessary, and he replied in the '.' affirmative. His feeling with regard to Z Dr. Baird was this: The memb&s of the ; > staff, knew th& grave consequences that - might result from even a slight -error of 'i judgment. They would not like' to see ': 'Dr. ( Baird have to leave the Hospital. ■>r They felt that a combination of circum- :". stances had led. to the error of judg--7 ment. Dr. Baird was a young man; he '.' was only 23 years of age. He was oon- ••• scientious, but had an unfortunate mant. ger." He (Dr.' Wilson) personally thought Z I)r. "Baird 'had ' received ■, a great > lesson/ If in the future his work was s' not satisfactory, he would have no hesiC tation in taking action.,: £ Mr. A. R. Hornblow said that after c hearing" the evidence he had been opv posed "to drastic action being taken. He » had not heard that the public was clam- " ouring for a dismissal. Everybody was ; liable to error, and he did not think that ■_in this case Dr. Baird was entirely to j .blame. Hs would support the motion. '. Mr. J. W. Butler said he quits recogf J nised that there were contributory causes J to-the^ delay which '-• occured; but he thouglit. it';was*pitifuf that the patient *• should ■ "have suffered; froni th^' severe .;- burns' for the ■ length of time she did. •': However, he had no wish to inflict un- :;_ dve 1 punishment: Mr. C. H. Chapman expressed the I opinion that the majority of - members :. liad come to the conclusion that, owing "'to the contributory' causes; it "would be wise if they did not insist upon the resignation of Dr. Baird. The Rev. Dr. Elliott said, in view of ; tlie statement of the chairman and the '. ■medical superintendent, he thought: the , board should not., take any; further! Ac- ■ tion. Mr. jL J. M'Curdy criticised Dr. Baird's evidence at the Inquiry, and expressed the opinion that the findings of the board should have led to the resignation of Dr. Baird. He opposed the motion. The motion was.carried by Unvotes to 4. ' For the motion:.Messrs. Castle Appletbn, Campbell, Chapman, Hornblow, ; Luke, Petherick. Williamson, Windley, the Rev. Dr. Elliott, and Mrs. M'Vicar. Against the motion: Messrs. Biitler, 1 Cole, M'Cm'dy, and Robinson.