POST MORTEM EXAMS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 202, 9 August 1928, Page 5

POST MORTEM EXAMS.

IN INTEREST OF THE LIVING. PLEA FOR COMPULSION. [Per Press Association.) Hamilton, Aug. 9. A plea that post-mortem examinations be compulsory In all oases was made by Dr, G. W. Gower, surgeon and superintendent to the Waikato Hospital, whilst lecturing here last night. Dr. Gower opened his remarks on this subject by referring to the difficulty of diagnosing cancer. “When a patient dies of supposed cancer and this has not been verified by an operation and microscopical examination,” he said, “a post-mortem examination should be made. This is in the interest of the living. In my opinion such should be compulsory; in fact I would go farther and say that post-mortem examinations should be made in all cases of disease and the doctor who attended the patient should be present. The lessons learned,” he said, “would be invaluable in the diagnosis and treatment of others.” Speaking from memory, he said he believed that post-mortem examinations were already made in al! cases in Austria, and in some American hospitals relatives were induced to agree. In the great majority of cases, in New Zealand, as elsewhere, there was some sentiment against it. but once the practice became general people would think nothing of it The present practice, he contend, - was slipshod A doctor, having mad, a diagnosis, gave a death certifier upon that diagnosis. Medical know ledge would be greatly assisted by universal post-mortem examinations and doctors would prefer to know the truth, even if they were shown to be Jn the wrong.