DEATH DURING OPERATION

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 13 September 1930, Page 5

DEATH DURING OPERATION

WRONG DRUG 'GIA'EN SURIGEON

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 12

The reopened inquiry was concluded to-day regarding the death of Miss Violet Monica Salniond, late headmistress of Craighead School, Timaru, who died at St. George’s 'gospital, Christchurch.

At the earlier inquest a verdict was returned that death was due to aikaloidal poisoning caused! 'by cocaine, which by mistake instead of neocaine eras injected round the tonsils prior to an operation for the removal of the tonsils. In a rider the coroner stated that no blame was attachable to the operating surgeons. Dr. J. A. (Mac Gibbon said he. could have himself filled the syringe but both his hands were occupied with the operationl and it was the ordinary procedure for the surgeon to leave that duty to the nurse, who was always competent to do it. 'Witness described the operation, saying that soon after it started the patient became restless, and while he was trying to soothe her he noticed hoi 1 mouth twitching. ITc asked the nurse what she put in tliO syringe. She replied adrenalin and cocaine. He threw the instruments aside and told Dr. 'Crawsliaw they must adopt artificial respiration. The usual remedies for cocaine poisoning were followed. In such cases the patient usually recovered in tuvo hours. They wore with Miss Saimond 'three hours and a-half. The error made by the nurse was certainly not due to lack of care on her part. She was a good nurse. He did net blame the nurse at all; it was a pure misadventure. Evidence was given by Drs. Crawshaw, Sandston and 'Guthrie. All agreed with Dr. 'MacGibbon’s procedure in allowing the nurse to fill the syringe. After hearing the evidence and counsels’ addresses the coroner (Mr H. A. Voting, S.M.) thanked counsel for their co-operation in a public service. The points raised were of a delicate nature and required detached thought, he said. He would perhaps express an opinion at a later date.