SURGEON SUED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1937, Page 3

SURGEON SUED

EXONERATED BY JUDGE

LONDON, November 11

When Air. Justice Tucker- in the King’s Bench Division exonerated Harley Street specialist) Horace? Powell Winsbury-Wliite from any negligence in aii operation performed four years- ago, lie saved all'- patients o£ : surgeons from the risk- of highei Winshury-Whife had! been- sued for damages by Mi'- , Arthur William Morris, 61-year-old commercial traveller,, of- Arundel Gardens, Gooch mayes. Essex. Mr. Morris’s case ■was that a. drainage tube was left in his body, for .four months after the operation, and as. a result his health liad been ruined'. . , The operation was performed in. St. Paul’s Hospital, EnilelT Street, 01 which- Mr. Winsbury-Wliite is honorary surgeon and where Mr. Mon is was a. private patient, lli' crosswxamination, Mr. Wihsbury-Wliito said that ho did not hold himself responsible for' things doiio to his-' patient: in. his absence. Mr. Justice Tucker, giving judgment with 1 costs 1 lor Mr. Wiiisbury--Wliit'e, said: “There is not tlie slightest foundation for any suggestion 1 that Mr. W'insubry-White in any way failed in his duty to Mr. Morris.” AFTER-CA RE PROBLEM Rack-ill-his Harley Street liouie Mr. Wiusbury-White said: “The whole of the medical profession was watching this case. The. physician, like the surgeon, must- leave a certain amount of the after-care of the patient, to- tlie staff of the hospital—people in whom, as a- rule, he has the greatest confidence.

“If the case had gone against me it would', have meant that a .surgeon would.-, have limited the .number of hid patients in' private beds of hospitals. “That would most likely have meant an iiiui'ease in the charges lor opciations to compensate the surgeon for the extra, work- involved in looking after the patient and the risk of action for- negligence.” Mr. Win-sbury-Whitc expressed, his sympathy, for Mr. Morri si “the iti'ffi df this most unfortunate misadjventure.” ~ Mr. Morris left the Court on the sarni of his 1 devoted wife-. H-e said the costs 1 of the case would amount to £l5OO.

Ho added: “Where the money is to' come from. 1 don’t know. I shall not be able- to go- for a holiday, though 1 feel the need- of one. 1 shall have to return to my work immediately, and hope for the best.”