EXTRAORDINARY CASE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 August 1928, Page 11

EXTRAORDINARY CASE

LATE EDITION

DIAGNOSIS OF INJURIES.

DOUBTFUL value of x-ray.

THE WELLINGTON INCIDENT (By Telegraph—Special to The Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 7. An argent question asked by Mr P. Eraser in the mouse or Representatives related to the remarks of Justice .Sim in the Supreme Court in reference to the fact that the late Tkos. George Need bam had heen disenarged from Wellington tlospital as a perfectly well man, despite* the fact that he had hve ribs bronen, three others dislocated, one lung pierced by a broken rib and his liver torn. Tbe deceased was examined by two doctors and subjected to X-ray examination. Ilis Honour nad said that it seemed astounding that such things could happen. Mr Eraser asked the Minister oi Health ii he would have a thorough investigation made of the facts of the case. ‘‘Until I read the report in the newspaper 1 had no knowledge of the ease,” replied the Hon. j. A. loung. However, he had had inquiries made and lus in Formation was that Needham was Xrayed immediately on admission on February 2. No injury or fracture, or injury to the organs was disclosed, it was not quite correct to state that the man was discharged as perfectly well, since on the day following, lie had insisted on going against the vice of the medical officer. There was no power to detain him in hospital. The lull circumstances were investigated ;it the inquest but tbe coroner made no comment. The Minister said he could not give any further information at the moment, but if Mr Eraser was not satisfied he would have further inquiries made. The Wellington Hospital authorities have explained that the injured man was admitted against his own wish and left against their advice as there was no power to detain him. The circumstances of the man’s admission to the hospital and his leaving the hospital were investigated in all then details at time of the inquest arid the coroner having heard the evidence did not find that there was any negligence on the part of the hospital authorities. The Supreme Court case turned on the question of negligence of tramway employees and the hospital staff was not represented, thus apparently the hospital has been found guilty without trial or having the opportunity of defending itself. . Such an occurrence is not unusual and no doubt will occur again. The layman has the impression that an Xray takes a photograph, but it is a mere shadowgraph and cracks in bones do not necessarily show up in the shadows. The diagnosis of fractured ribs is based upon symptoms that patients usually complain of, and with the assistance of X-ray; if all the usual signs are absent there is nothing for a "doctor fo base his diagnosis on, and such anomalies as occurred in this case are not infrequent. If diagnosis could he made as easily as some, people suggest, the practice of' medicine and. surgerv would be much easier than it is. In 'this case the X-ray was a good shadowgraph and oven after the post mortem finding does not suggest any fracture.