BOARD AND DOCTORS

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1947, Page 6

BOARD AND DOCTORS

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL , Chairman’s Comment ft AUCKLAND, May 21. Describing the criticism made in a letter irom tne combined medical sian ot tne Auckland Hospital uoaru as •‘tne latest hymn ot nate ny a certain section ot tne doctors,” trie cnairman of the hoard, Mr A. J. Moouy, said yesterday .mat ne made no apologies tor nis actions tu cnairman during the past nine years. While ne continued to he cnairman ne would stand by his actions in tne past. Dr. Gilmour’s resignation had been tendered to and accepted ny tne hoard. There the matter rested. “The whole trouble may be condensed in tms snort statement: ‘The doctors know that 1 know too much’,” said Mr Moody. “It is well Known that the board s investigations committee, of which r was one, although admittedly ns chairman, does its oest to elucidate tne trum —• winch is hard. H 1 abolished this committee, 1 am toid by tne doctors ail would be well and 1 would oe 'the good boy’.” Mr Moody said he would rather resign than betray the trust of the electors by discontinuing the investigations under present circumstances. If the doctors would adopt his suggestion, made several times, of holding a frank inquiry into any incident, that would alter the position and he would consider the curtailment of the investigation committee’s activities.

Other boards had deaths in their hospitals under circumstances which should bring forth an inquiry. Mr Moody continued, but apparently the doctors in those districts had the boards better trained. The board had been congratulated by the coroner for its action and several steps had been taken following inquiry by the investigations committee. There had been rhe instruction that an anaestetic must be completed before the anaesthetist went to a second case and the virtual banning of chloroform. There had also been an instruction reiterated the other night that all general anaesthetic cases should be kept in the theatre under the sole care of a senior nurse until respiratory obstruction dangers had passed. Inspection of patients’ charts by anyone had been stopped in cases involving workers’ compensation claims. Now the defendant party could see them only if the patient approved. “In my view it is the board’s duty to stand between the medical profession and the public, said Mr Moody. ‘‘My object is to see that the patient 'gets the best treatment and attention and the public can rest assured that the board will not be afraid of doing its duty fearlessly and impartially. “It appears to me that some of the doctors forget that they are paid servants of the board, most of them drawing about £5OO a year. In the old days they were honorary members of the staff, but now they are drawing this money in addition to what they get from conducting examinations, giving lectures to the nursing staff and from their private practices. On the other hand, we have on our staff doctors who are excellent men, a fact which I have frequently stated.” Discussnig a complaint of interference, Mr Moody said that the board was paying big salaries to certain of its officers. If they did not find out what was going on , and he did, he would certainly bring the matter to the board’s attention. The board had the right to interview any of its servants. If he found out that any department of the hospital needed reorganisation it was his duty to bring a suggestion before the board. If a managing director of any largo business proposed a major alteration, he would not be criticised for proposing it. “I almost feel that this hymn, of hate is a preliminary skirmish by a certain section of the medical profession, who have in mind that there i,s an election in November,” concluded Mr Moody. “That is why it is being sung now.”