THE GISBORNE HOSPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2129, 2 March 1908, Page 2

THE GISBORNE HOSPITAL.

DR. VALENTINE’S VISIT,

IHE INSPECTOR - GENERAL TALKS OF THE O’DOAVD CASE AND OTHER AIATTERS.

. During the past week the Inspec-tor-General of Hospitals, Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, has been in Gisborne investigating various matters connected with the local institution, and he left on Saturday night for Auckland. Before leaving he met, at an informal gathering, members of the Hospital Board, aid discussed with them the various matters that had engaged his attention. Chief of these was tho O Dowd case. In regard to this matter a letter had appeared in this journal in October last, signed: by .Mr. Jas. O’Dowd, in which the writer gave his version of the facte which, bad resulted in his lad, Joseph O Dowd losing his leg. The ladhad been an tho ho pital for several months, and after leaving it, three dootors had agreed that amputation was necessary. Mr. O’Dowd subsequently wrote to the Hospital Board, charging the hospital staff with negligence m the matter, and asking for a public enquiry. This request had been forwarded to the InsDeetor General. Dr. Valintine informedthe Tusteesthat he had taken, exhaust 1 1 o eydeuce trom those connected with the case,, and would in due ourso furnish a full report. In the thaTHe 6 1G - inf ? rm the Boa rd tiiat the evidence tailed in several important points to corroborate the statements of Mr .O'Dowd. It was apparent that a mistake had been made an the treatment nJ r P , atlont dur “S the early po^ (here°lnf S ? tay ™ kke hospital, *bnt fieie had been symptoms which standa’b/e to mifitake <l“*© nnderknowledne n.? ny 0116 with medical unde, snob 1 err ? r was not “ado i list if v Clreu “ s tanees as would l )rese ut manage•uDoriutendmt, b Dr“"SrhS wi"' “Not only is i, S * fession, namely, tact T there 1 ',ieml bi‘° pre f ut management,’ tlm “*? ° f that maV be ressed fb SCUS?e - L Dr ' Valintine exl oro ddv 01)1111011 that the site was safeK- » i ? aiutary ’ auJ Collld bo imt 'f ti lol'I ol ' mt V :y years to come, an r. f . th l' time should arrive when erected"’ b' ,V uiWi . n ß was to be ’.. lt might- he wise from many points ol view to chose a site stand,n S »J» on one of the hills.