DEATH IN HOSPITAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 9

DEATH IN HOSPITAL

SUICIDE OF PATIENT. INQUIRY AT AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 21. The case of a man who committed suicide in Auckland Hospital, evideutliy by knocking his head against the wall and forcing his spine into the base of his skull, was the subject of an inquest held before Mr F. K. Hunt, S 11. The man had previously made two unsuccessful attempts to commit suicide, one attempt being in hospital. Deceased was William Lankier, a ship’s fireman, aged 58, a single man. He was a native of Scotland, but had lived in New Zealand for 30 years. He had no relatives in the Dominion. He had been worried about unemployment aud on October 30 lie was found lying in front of an open gas jet. He was taken to Auckland Hospital, where hi-- deatli occurred shortly before midnight on October 31. Evidence was given by Dr T. 11. Pettit, who was called to attend deceased, that deceased’s demeanour at Ihe time was such that witness felt l.;e was extremely dangerous and migilt even make an attack upon witness. Deceased was a powerful man. Witness had known him previously and lie li.i 1 been quiet and well spoken. Witness had informed Dr Gould, of the Hospital, that it would be necessary to put deceased in cells. Answering Mr Cocker, who appeared for tlie Hospital Board, witness said he considered medical observation as well as mental was needed in the case. He bad explained lo Dr Gould that he regarded deceased as dangerous and a mail who might eventually have to go to a mental hospital. The medical superintendent of Auckland Hospital, Dr Craven, said deceased was admitted to tlie institution as a case of gas poisoning before 6 a.m. on October 3U. The Coroner: When were you notified ?

Witness: When 1 saw the admission - notices at half past eight. ' Did you see lnm?—Not then. What was the next thing you heard? —I learned at 9.20 a.m. that he had , sustained a cut wrist. I saw him then. Was he in a room by himself?—Yes. He was lying quietly in bed. He had ! straps on liis wrists and ankles then. ! QUESTIONS BY CORONER. ; They had been properly fixed in the ' afternoon, witness proceeded. A form ’ had been sent to tlie mental hospital ■ in connection with the intended transfer of deceased to that institution. Dr ■ Tothill came from the mental hospital • the following afternoon, and his report i recommended the transfer of deceased ■ to the mental hospital as soon as possible. On the following morning witness heard Bankier was dead. The Coroner: Is it not the routine ■ in such a case to notify the police of ■ the admission ? ; Witness replied that deceased was i not brought to the institution by the i police. i The Coroner: This man was strapped down. Fifteen hours is a long time to ; be strapped down? Witness: He had quite a range of movement. When the Coroner commented that he was told that that type of strap was not allowed in a mental hospital, witness said that theie were facilities and attendants at that institution. The Coroner: Have you no padded cell ? ./ Winess: No. He must have been improperly strapped down, don’t you think?—Tlie only explanation that 1 can find is that the strap was defective. Answering Sergeant Bisset, witness said that had tlie patient been violent he would have sent for a con-

stable. Dr. Gould, assistant medical superintendent, said he had been informed by Dr. Pettit that the case was one of attempted suicide, but he did not recollect that it was said that the man was dangerous. It had been said deceased was noisy and violent. The Coroner: Did you see this man .upon admission? Witness: No, sir. He was left to be seen by one of the residents ?—Yfis. What was your next connection with this case? —I really had no further connection with it. Did you hear of his cutting his wrist? —I happened to go into the ward just after it was done. They were putting on a restraining sheet. Then I gathered from what they told me that he had broken a cup or glass and had deliberately cut his wrist. He was then being attended by the resident. Don’t you think you should have put somebody by to watch him? — Well, lie was apparently quite quiet then, sir. NURSES’ EVIDENCE. Amt AVinifred Metcalfe, nurse, said she was on duty in the ward on October 30. She visited deceased about 8 a.m. He was then quiet and she gave him a cup of tea. When she returned to liis cell 15 minutes later with some bread and honey she found him with pools of blood around him. There was a cut on his left wrist, and lie was unconscious. Deceased had inflicted an injury with a piece of glass and there was a broken tumbler in the room. The Coroner: Who took him a tumbler? —I do not know. Phyllis Mildred Pottinger, sister in charge of the tvard, said there was no constable in attendance while deceased was in hospital. After deceased’s wrist, was bandaged restraining straps were applied and witness gave instructions that deceased was to have no visitors and that no article should be left in the cell with which he might do himself harm. Tlie Coroner: The word “cell” does not denote what a nice comfortable room this really was. It is not a cell. How did the glass get in the room ? AATtness said she thought it must have l>een left there when the nurse brought some medicine. The Coroner: If this unfortunate man had been sent to a mental hospital- that morning he would be alive now. AVitness : He was quiet. “Of course he was quiet with the straps on,” commented the Coroner. Nurse Leila Mossman said she applied restraining straps when Dr. Ritchie was present. The Coroner: Apparently they were not put on properly, because he got out of them. AVitness : They were quite firmly attached. The inquiry was adjourned, the Coroner stating that he wanted the resident doctor who saw deceased to be called.