Little Girl’s Death

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 110, 22 April 1936, Page 8

Little Girl’s Death

MOTHER’S LETTER Harsh Treatment at Hospital Alleged PATHETIC COMPLAINT By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, April 2L “This is a very bad case,’’ said the chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr W. Wallace, when a pathetic letter of complaint was read to the board from a mother whose little girl had died in hospital recently. The writer was Mrs Rawson, of St. Heliers Bay, who alleged that she had received harsh treatment form the medical superintendent and from the sister at the hospital.

“What it is to be the sad mother ot a dying child in the Auckland Hospital,’’ began the writer. “May I voice my sorrows to soften harder hearts?’’

She went on to say that her little girl of five, so bright and uncomplaining, had received terrible injury to her head and skull. Infection set in and Internal bleeding. After one serious operation the child appeared to the doctors to be well enough to go home. They said she was fretting terribly, and they rang and told the mother to take the child out. “The sister said the child was all right,’’ wrote the mother, “but any ordinary person could plainly see that she was in a serious condition. I did all I could, but she was in cruel pain and not able to keep any food down. She was rapidly getting worse, and the local doctor sent her back after three days. I went up to the hospital the next day to try to get a pass to see the child for a few minutes each day. I fully realised she was in a hopeless condition. When I approached the sister in charge she said, ‘She is the most discontented child we have ever had here, and never appears to have been a normal happy child.’ ’’ The mother said she went to Dr. Craven to get a pass, but he refused without seeing her. The child had another serious operation, and looked like death itself, but the mother was allowed only one hour on visiting days to sit beside her. She rapidly got worse and died while being operated on on a Saturday morning.

“What help it would have been,” continued the writer, “if I could have sat by the little soul and held her hand for a little while each day.. Dr. Craven said to me to go home, and stay home. It was nothing to worry about. If it was his child he would not worry. I knew then he was not in his right place. Why punish a little child sol’’ The writer concluded by saying she would be grateful if the letter were read before the board. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. A report on the case from the medical superintendent, Dr. Craven, was then read. In this Dr. Craven said the child had been sent home because she was fretting badly, and her progress was being retarded. It was thought that a period at home would assist her. It was explained to the mother that the child’s condition did not warrant the Issue of a special pass. It was not considered that the child was likely to die. When it was realised that her condition was becoming desperate every facility was granted. He understood the father had been a regular attendant at the bedside.

“No barrier is ever raised against parents or relatives visiting patients who are considered seriously ill,” concluded the superintendent. “How long was the child in hospital the second time before she died?” asked Dr. Hastings.

The superintendent said he thought she had been there five weeks.

Mr G. T. Parvin said he hoped the board would not accept the superintendent’s bald statement. The matter sl-ould be considered in committee with all the people concerned before the board. It was about time they did something’ to remove these complaints that were doing the board no good. Mrs Dreaver said she felt very sorry for the mother, but in fairness to the medical superintendent she must s.:y that she had referred a number of mothers to him in similar circumstances, and never had there been a refusal. Dr. Hastings said he had aiways trund the medical superintendent very satisfactory in these matters. This happening suggested to him another argument in favour of having two senior medical men. MORE INFORMATION WANTED. Dr. Gunson said that if they were going to discuss the matter he would bse some more information. The chairman said they ought to lave the fullest information. Dr. Guuson moved that they get the fullest information through the medical superintendent from al! the parties cc ncerned. Mr J. Waddell said he did not thiidi it was fsir to take the mother’s letter just ns it stood r.nd call the superin tendent’s letter a bald statement. “I refuse to believe that ho is n hardhearted man,*’ said Mr Waddell. After the chairman had explained that it was the intention to have the fullest p-.ssTilo inquiry, Dr, Gunson’s molicD was carried. Another item on the board’s agenda was 12 letters of appreciation from grateful patients and relatives of patients. “That is the other side of the picture,’’ said a member of the board.