HASTENED DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 13

HASTENED DEATH

NO UNLAWFUL INTENT

AN OPIATE IN HOSPITAL

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

A verdict that Sidney John Anderson, aged 47, motor mechanic, died in the Auckland Hospital on February 17, and that death was caused by veronal and opium poisoning associated with toxemia arising from cancer of the bowel, such veronal and opium having been administered to alleviate suffering and not with intent to kill, was returned by the Coroner at the conclusion of the inquest today.

The Coroner said he understood that veronal had been placed on the list of dangerous drugs.

Detetcive-Sergeant Walsh said he understood it had been placed on the list from April 1 this year, but he had not verified the fact.

The Coroner said that a week before Anderson's death the cancer was beyond the aM of operative science. He felt convinced that Anderson would not have died of the cancer on Monday morning, but would have lingered much longer. The attitude of the law in such circumstances, the Coroner added, was that no person was permitted to accelerate the death of a person who was dying. No person had a legal right to accelerate Anderson's death. WRONG STATE OF AFFAIRS. Comment on the latitude given to chemists in varying prescriptions in doctors' cases of cancer and the duties of doctors in suspected poisoning cases was made by the Coroner, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, at the conclusion of the inquest.

"I found during the hearing of the evidence," said the Coroner, "that chemists assume discretion as to variations of doctors', prescriptions for drugs in cases of cancer. That is a very wrong state of affairs It is not contemplated by the Poisons Act, and if it is practised generally among chemists, such a practice should cease."

The Coroner also commented on Anderson's admission to hospital with a history of suspected veronal poisoning and on action after his death in which some of the medicines were moved from one place and sent elsewhere. When cases of poisoning were suspected- it was the duty of the medical practitioner to report immediately to the police, he'said, leaving them to investigate, so that the exhibits could not in any way become mixed.