DOCTOR'S SILENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1938, Page 28

DOCTOR'S SILENCE

A PATIENT'S CONDITION

DISABILITY UNREALISED

A doctor was questioned at the Clerkenwell Police Court about his omission to tell a patient that he was suffering from disseminated sclerosis, or creeping paralysis, states "The Post's" London correspondent. The patient, Gabriel William Eyre. 39, a decorator, was committed for trial on charges of manslaughter, driving while under the influence of drink, and dangerous driving.

He was also accused under the Perjury Act of making a false statement that he had no defect in the control

)f his limbs when applying for a drivng licence. Eyre pleaded not guilty to 11 the charges. It was stated that on the evening of fune 2 a car, driven by Eyre, collided vith a cyclist, who was fatally inured. Medical evidence was given that lyre was suffering from creeping aralysis, the result of trench fever ontracted during the war, but the olice surgeon was of opinion that alohol had aggravated his condition, lyre said he had had only two tonic raters. In the witness-box, Eyre said that lthough at one time he practically :>st the use of his legs, his condition ad improved. "Until I heard Dr. Mc/hirter state it in court, I did not now what was wrong with me," he sclared. Regarding the accident, Eyre said iat the cyclist swerved in front of his v* without warning. Dr. McWhirter said that Eyre had aen his patient for about six years. Te added: "Some two years ago I adised him to see a specialist, and the pecialist confirmed my opinion that lyre had disseminated sclerosis." The Magistrate: Was he informed of he specialist's opinion?— No. The Magistrate: What does one pay a loctor for? Mr. Price, defending counsel: I suppose he told as much as he thought proper. Dr. McWhirter: Yes. The point was that it is a very serious condition. It does hot improve, although there may oerhaps be a period of quiescence. Eyre was simply told that he had had trench fever.