Child’s Death in Hospital

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 273, 21 November 1934, Page 7

Child’s Death in Hospital

Allegations by Parents BOARD HOLDS INQUIRY Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. An investigation into complaints by Mr G. A. Downic, of Rtimuera, that his son Kenneth, aged Si years, who died in tho Auckland Hospital on October 17, was not seen by an honorary consulting specialist and did not receive prompt treatment, was commenced by the house committee of the Auckland Hospital Board to-night. Mr and Mrs Dowuio wore present in addition to the hospital officers concerned. The case was mentioned at tho meeting of the board in the afternoon. "Wo have nothing to hide in this matter,” said the chairman (Mr W. Wallace), “and we want to got to the bottom of it. Statements have been prepared by the officers and probably the complaint may not be as serious as it appears. I think wo should refer the matter to the house committee to investigate and invito tho Press to be present. Definite instructions wcie given some time ago by tho medical superintendent (Dr. Craven) that the resident medical officer in charge should report to the honorary concerned as soon as possible. In such a case as this, I understand that, on the day in question, the member of the honorary staff who should have seen this boy was actually in the grounds of the hospital.” When the inquiry opened to-night Dr. Pezaro, who ordered the child to hospital on October 15, was unable to attend, but wrote intimating that he would be available personally at a later date.

A letter written by Mr Downie to Dr. Craven, sotting forth the grounds of his complaint, was read to the committee. Mr Downie said the child had been admitted as an urgent case for an immediate blood transfusion. This had been performed 24 hours after admission and then only by a junior doctor oil the resident staff. The honorary consultant in charge of the case had never seen the boy. He also complained about delays at. the admitting office and in the taking of blood tests of liis wife and liimsclf for the purpose of a blood transfusion. Mr Wood said the best course for the committee to follow would be to hear the written reports of the doctors and nurses in answer to the points raised in Mr Downie’s complaint. In a letter to tho board Dr. Pezaro outlined the boy ’s illness. He went to the hospital and saw the assistantmedical superintendent (Dr. Gould) to explain the case and arrange for tho boy’s admission.

Condition Grave from Outset “In my opinion,” Dr. Pezaro added, “the boy’s condition was extremely grave from the moment I saw him and I was not surprised to hear of his death. ’ ’

Dr. Gould reported that Dr. Pezaro had spoken to him in reference to the case. He gave the usual instructions to the admitting office —that the patient was to be admitted immediately. Dr. Pezaro had said the child was very ill and might even need a blood transfusion.

In his statement to the board Dr. E. S. Jamieson, the resident doctor concerned in the case, said Kenneth Downie was admitted to his ward at 2.30 p.m. and put in cot 15.

“I found a note from the boy’s doctor on his chart,” Dr. Jamieson continued. “It read, 'please admit, as arranged, Kenneth Downie, severe anaemia.’ An examination revealed two main features—severe anaemia, with a very low blood count, and a very weak and exhausted heart, Reasons for Postponement.

“Treatment was the next' consideration, and a blood tiansfusion was required. The blood transfusion was postponed for three reasons —tho laboratory had closed at 4.30 'p.m., so that bloodtyping was not possible until the following day. In my opinion the boy’s condition did not warrant my employing a universal donor, with the risk attached to that, and the boy’s heart was in such a condition that an immediate transfusion would have severely hampered his slender chance of life. For these reasons the transfusion was postponed until the following day. “That evening I went to telephone the office and gave instructions for tho parents to be at (he laboratory at 9 a.m. to be typed the following morning. I arranged for the theatre to be ready at 2 p.m. for the transfusion, this being the earliest and most convenient hour available. Tho operation began at 2.30 p.m. and was successfully completed, the parents remarking that the hoy looked better already. “I saw him in the afternoon and several times in the evening. His condition was becoming worse and I prescribed alleviating treatments and left instructions with the nursing staff before retiring. I saw him again at 3.45 a.m. and remained with him until 5 a.m. He was so obviously worse that I telephoned my honorary, who approved of my treatment and could suggest nothing further to be done.” “I attended tho post-mortem examination,” said Dr. Ludbrook, a member of the honorary staff, “and discussed the treatment with Dr. Jamieson. The boy’s condition was so serious on admission that lie thought it advisable to delay the blood transfusion. With this decision I entirely agree. When, after the transfusion, the condition of the child became worse, Dr. Jamieson carried. out all possible methods of treatment for such a condition. In my 6pinion th 6 treatment of this boy was carried out with the best possible skill and no other treatment could have saved the boy’s life, for the disease he was suffering from was such that there is no possible hope of recovery.” Sister I. M. Reynolds, who was in charge of the ward on the afternoon of October 15, said in her written statement that she did not remember seeing Mrs. Downie or the boy until the latter was in bed in the ward. Had she seen

the bov ; who looked very ill, she would