INQUEST REOPENED

Evening Star, Issue 20587, 12 September 1930, Page 12

INQUEST REOPENED

OPERATING THEATRE TRAGEDY THE WWW AESTHETIC [Per United Press Association - .] CHRISTCHURCH, September 12. The inquest was reopened this morning concerning the death of Miss Violet* Monica Salmona, lato headmistress at Craighead School, Timaru. The coroner (Mr H. A. Young, S.M.), after explaining how the first inquest came to be held immediately after the death, and with no representatives of the Press present, said: “ 1 later became satisfied that the public mind was agitated over the matter, and that it was advisable that confidence in submission to local anesthetics should, as far as possible, be maintained. I therefore got in touch with the witnesses and their solicitors, and all agreed that I would be doing a public service in holding a further inquiry. The solicitors present have approved of certain witnesses being called who will give evidence as to the practice in the administration of local anesthetics. I am of opinion that in New Zealand an inquest cannot at present be formally reopened. These proceedings are, liowever, with the consent of all concerned, and more in the nature of an informal public inquiry on matters arising out of the inquest, but which cannot affect the verdict already found by me as coroner.” Mr F. S. Wilding, counsel for Dr Mac Gibbon, said: “ Your decision in this matter has been received by all interested parties with unqualified approval. The relatives of the deceased are absent, but 1 am pleased to see that they are represented by counsel. 1 should like to say that the general public strongly upholds your decision to have a further inquiry in this matter. That is not because we think there was any undue hurry in the first place. No doubt of partiality has been raised. The facts wore candidly admitted by the chief actors, but the matter has aroused such a wave of feeling and sympathy that it is advisable to see whether some further precautions may be taken to lessen the possibility of a recurrence. Dr Macgibbon has been the victim of anonymous attacks both by letter and telephone. They were mostly from women. Air Young; I myself was much impressed with Dr Mac Gibbon’s fairness and sympathy to the theatre nurse in conditions which must have been very distressing to him. “ That is very gratifying,” said Dr Mac Gibbon, who then proceeded to give evidence as to his system of administering anaesthetics. Greta Clarkson said that, previous to ■the ease in question, she had assisted Dr Mac Gibbon at an operation at St. George’s Hospital. The doctor then asked witness for neo-caino in a syringe. In the case under inquiry the doctor had asked for an anaesthetic. To Mr Sim, witness said that it was the first time she had not seen a local anaesthetic used for the removal of tonsils.

The matron at St. George’s Hospital, Daisy Thwaites, said Nurse Clarkson was a clever and capable nurse. Prior to the operation the nurse had been doing theatre work for ten days, and the operation in question would have been her thirty-first. She had assisted Dr Mac Gibbon on several occasions be fore, but only once when that particular drug was used. . Mr Sira : Is the. use. of cocaine and adrenalin frequent? Witness: Yes, but neo-caino is used only by Dr Mac Gibbon. Other surgeons use only cocaine for external application. It is quite common to hav a cocaine in the surgery for local anaesthetic purposes. To Mr Wilding; At the previous op oration the nurse had received some instruction regarding a case as treated by Dr Mac-Gibbon. "To Mr K. M. Gresson: From the time that the patient came into the room she was never left. Dr Mac Gibbon said ho had never had any trouble in St. George’s Hospital, and the nurses generally in the public hospitals were worthy of having the confidence placed in them. Mr Wilding; It has been suggested that you allowed the nurse to take the whole blame of this on her shoulders to screen yourself. Witness: In what way do you want me to answer that? The Coroner; I do not think it is necessary to go into that. I was quite impressed with the doctor’s sympathy. Witness: Those who know mo know that I would not shelter behind any woman. I have heard all sorts of insinuations, and I have tried hard to protect the nurse against public opinion, and to take as much blame ns possible on my own shoulders. I do not attribute any blame to the nurse.

Mr Wilding: Has it been your practice the name the drug in the presence of the patient? Witness: “One of the first things we are taught as students is not to name the drug.” Witness had had in his nineteen years’ experience two similar eases, but no serious consequences had ensued. Air Wilding: \'lan yon account for this lamentable lajise on the part of the nurse? Witness: I cannot. It was not due to lack of care.

In reply to further questions witness said that he thought that the more conscientious a person was the more liable was be or she to make a mistake.