MINISTER’S REPLY
TO CORONER’S STRONG COMMENT iPer Press Assocmpum—Copyright). WELLINGTON, June 0. The remarks made recently by Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S M., at an inquest in Dunedin regarding tne duties or doctors attending cases where death occurs as the resu't of criminal abortion, were referred to in a statement to-iugli't by the iMinisiter of Health, (the Hon. P; Eraser). He replied to the Coroner's statement that the ruling of the Director-General of Health, lor the guidance of tne medical profession, was most unfortunate and nnschie.ous , in its effect. The Minister said that the Director-General had not given a ruling himself, but he had merely , passed on the opinion, oi a law officer of the Crown, that a doctor was under no legal obligation to inform the police as to the cause of an illness that was due to an illegal operation. The Minister added that he agreed with the Coroner that, when a patient died as the result of induced abortion, the doctor in attendance should inform the police or the Coioner. To render such action legally obligatory, he said, would require tile amendment of the law, which he was not convinced was at present necessary.
“I am disposed to believe,” he said “that the matter can be safely left in the hands of the medical profession, Y which, 1 feel certain, is anxious not-"-'"*''*'-only to obey the law, but also to, discharge those moral obligations resting on every good citizen to assist in the detection and suppression of crime, while, at the same time, keeping faith with those who, often in great ihental as well as physical distress,, repose confidence in it.” Thfe prevalence, oi the practice of abortion has been prominently before the Health Department for a considerable time, tbe,.. Minister added, and the setting up of a committee or a commission of inquiry, with fi ll powers to investigate every aspect of this problem, was at present receiving consideration. It was hoped to make an announcement concerning this at a fail ly early date.
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Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1936, Page 4
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338MINISTER’S REPLY Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1936, Page 4
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