DOCTOR’S SUSPENSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1926, Page 5

DOCTOR’S SUSPENSION

AN INJUSTICE REMEDIED.

(Reuter.)

LONDON, January 19.

The Royal College of Surgeons has decided to terminate the. (suspension of Doctor Axham, aged 86, who was deprived of the right to practise in 1912, because he assisted Sir W. Barker, the bone setter, by administering an anaesthetic while Barker was operating. Dr. Axham’s case aroused much discussion, the newspapers and the public considering that Dr. Axham had been unjustly treated, especially as Sir W. Barker was knighted.

The effect of the decision is that he can now apply to the General Medical Council to have his name restored on the list of medseal practitioners. In an interview, Dr. Axham said: — “I am an old man now, but my last days will be made happier. I shall lodge an appeal immediately. I am longing now to see some friends and colleagues whom I have not seen for many years.” Sir W. Barker says: “Dr. Axham first came to see me. operate in 1905. He watched me for forty-five afternoons. Then he said he was convinced that it was his duty, as a. qualified man, to administer anaesthetics for me. He believed what he did was a public duty. He never hesitated, and he paid the penalty by his loss of professional status, winch has lasted for fifteen years.”