WRONG BODIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 September 1934, Page 7

WRONG BODIES

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL MISTAKE BOARD EXPRESSES REGRET Members of the Wellington Hospital Board spent a little time ’{it their last meeting in discussing the case where a mistake was made in the hospital mortuary by which wrong bodies were taken away by the undertakers (reports the “Post”). Reporting to the board oil tile case, the chairman (Mr F. Castle) said that unfortunately Uie burials were taking place before the mistake was rectified', xfe had looked into the matter, and arrangements liad ben made by which he thought that in future similar mistakes wouid be almost impossible. . .Instructions had been given to abandon the present system, and have a body tag only— a perforated tag half of which could be removed, winch would constitute the undertaker’s , receipt for ; thp body. He had asked the medical -superintendent to prepare a memorandum stating the facts. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT In his report the Medical Superintendent (Dr Ewen) stated .that in Accordance with the usual custom, a label bearing the name of the patient was attached to each body in thei-ward before it was removed to the mortuary,. I', had been i ustoinary for many years to obtain a receipt from the, .undertakers in each case. That had, taken the form of a- card which, for the convenience of the undertaker, was left on the trolley, it being understood (bat Hie would check the name oil the card, with, the name on the label attached to the body. The house steward. ’ Stated' that ail the undertakers in the city knew the system, and knew that- they ' were expected to check the name on the receipt card before signing. There would appear to be two possible- fenthis regrettable occurrence,: (1) 'lhat the bodies, after the post-mc-rtem'exam-ination, had been inadvertently placed on the wrong trolleys; (2) that the receipt cards had been in some way transposed. There did not appear to have been any mistake made in the liiortuary or in tile ward. If the usual procedure of checking tlie receipt cards with the labels on the bodies had been followed no mistake would have been made. To lessen the likelihoqd of a, similar mistake in the future, t(ie receipt card would henceforth form part of the identification label. He thought that, a member of the hospital staff should be charged with the duty of handing over the body to the undertaker and of getting a receipt for it. The chairman remarked that such an occurrence was never likely to happen again. He was sure that what had happened was deplored by every member of the board. It appeared from the report of thy Medical Superintendent that lib servant of the board was responsible for the mistake. IMPROVED SYSTEM ADOPTED

Dr. D. Macdonald Wilson said he agreed that a member of the hospital staff should oe present when bodies were removed. Such mistakes sometimes occurred in other- hospitals; the only thing to do, lie thought, was to adopt a system which was reasonably sure of presenting mistakes being made. The human element Would, however, always come in in connection with such matters. Mrs J. K. Preston expressed the opinion that a member, of the .boaid s own staff should be responsible tor handing over the body to the .undertaker. The suggestion had-been made that there, was a possibility qf a. wrong tag being put on the body.. No hospital should allow anything .-of that kind t'> happen. In her opinion it would be gross negligence if such a thing could Ih\ Campbell Begg said that the sympathy of the board must be felt Jor (hose who had suffered in connection with this matter. According to a report in the Press a similar mistake had recentlv occuried in another centre. The "chairman said that an improvement had already been made m the system. He was sure members of the board sympathised with the relatives of the two former patients. He thougnt that a letter should be sent to the relatives expressing tlie regret of the board. He moved accordingly. ... Mrs Preston: “i think the public should receive an assurance that every precaution will be taken in the future. The motion moved, by the chairman was carried.