PATIENT POISONED

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 April 1932, Page 5

PATIENT POISONED

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL SUICIDE.

[per press association.]

AUCKLAND, April 7.

The death of a woman who took poison while she was a patient at the Auckland Hospital, was investigated by the Coroner, Mr Hunt, S.M., at the inquest to-day. The deceased was Ziltah May Booth, aged 43, married, with two children, whose home was in Papatoetoe. She died in the hoospital on February 19. A nurse training at the hospital, Miss Ringi May Osmond, said she was on duty in the ward in which the deceased was a neurasthenic patient. She heard sounds outside, and found the deceased, who said, “I have finished it now.” Witness had not seen the deceased leave the ward. It was usual for her, in common with the other patients, to use the bathroom at will. Another training nurse, Miss Nellie Barnett, said she also was on duty in the ward. She knew that Mrs Booth was under treatment for neurasthenia. When witness spoke to her about 6.15 a.m., she seemed to be normal, but about an hour later Nurse Osmond called her and said that Mrs Booth had taken poison. After the deceased had been placed in bed, witness called the senior Sister. On her return, Mrs Booth was almost unconscious, and witness could not question her as to how she had obtained the poison. The dressing room at the end of the ward would be the only place where the woman could obtain poison, which was not locked in a cupboard. There was always a nurse in the ward, but patients who could do so were allowed to leave at will for the bathroom. Mrs Booth had not been noticed by any of the patients to leave her bed, or enter the dressing room. Dr. Gould, acting-Medical Superintendent at the hospital, said poison was kept in the dressing room of every ward. It would not be convenient to keep it always under lock. He would not say that the nurses had not been vigilant in allowing the deceased to leave the ward. The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide, while of unsound mind.