DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 73, 10 March 1930, Page 3

DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC

INQUEST ON MR J. J. MULLAN X

The adjuorned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the deatn of John James Mullany, of Napier, who died under an anesthetic at the Napier Hospital on February 10, was con eluded at Napier on Saturday t Mr A. M. Mowlem, the district coroner, presiding. Dr. T. W. Stoddart, house surgeon at the Napier Hospital, gave evidence that the deceased had been suffering from cancer of the lip and neck His teeth were first extracted and as this proved somewhat troublesome particular care was taken in ariaesthet-sing for the rest of the operation. He, however, began to struggle and shortly afterwards collapsed. Dr. Berry, who was in the course of preparing for the performance of the operation, was immediately summoned and came at once to help in the resuscitation. The collapse had been an cxtrao.dmarily sudden one, and despite the attempts made to save him, the patient failed to respond. In answer to questions by the coroner, witness stated that, an operation was imperative.

Dr. Berry stated that ho had soon deceased a few weeks prior to his death, and had advised the operation. An operation had been performed on deceased’s teeth, and witness had seen him during this realising then that the major operation later would be an extremely risky one. Wi.tl.es3 had soon that everything possible was done to minimise the risk. In his opinion death had been due to heart failure aggravated hv struggling during the application of (ho anaesthetic.

In returnin'’’ a vordW, in accordance with the medical evidence, the coroner remarked that it was porf-'eDv clear to him that everything possible had been done to save the unfol lunate patient, and that nothing had been done which should not have been done.