CONTRACTING DISEASE IN HOSPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 20653, 28 November 1930, Page 13

CONTRACTING DISEASE IN HOSPITAL

BOARD SEEKS IMMUNITY [Ps« TJmitbd Piikss Association.] WELLINGTON, November 27. In future before patients are admitted to the Wellington Hospital they will he required to sign a statement to the effect that they understand that the hospital does not accept any liability should they contract any disease while in the institution. “ I think you know the purpose of this,” said the chairman (Mr F. Castle) at a meeting of the board to-day, when the proposal was brought forward by the General Committee. The object, he said, was to bring under tho notice of the public tho fact that the board did not accept legal responsibility for any disease contracted by a patient after his or her admission to hospital. Sometimes cases of cross infection occurred, and it was not easy to trace the source of infection. There were some people who tried to place tho blame upon the hospital. That was hardly fair to the staff, as every precaution was taken to prevent infection. Mr A. J. M'Curdy: Sometimes it is contracted from visitors. The Chairman: Quito so. The source may bo external, Mr J. H. Helliwell suggested that the question was of sufficient importance to bo discussed by tho annual conference of tho Hospital Boards’ Association. Mr C. M. Luke said he believed several hospitals had adopted tho practice now proposed in Wellington. Mr Helliwell: I think it should bo incorporated in legislation.