THE TIMARU HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11826, 2 December 1901, Page 5

THE TIMARU HOSPITAL.

INQUIRY INTO COMPLAINTS. [BY kLkgAl*r. Fit ESS ASSOCIATION.] Timaru, Saturday. A committee of three members of lie Hospital Board held an inquiry this afternoon into two complaints made by Jas. Dunne, father of a large —first, that a child of his, lOgTf'f:, of age, had been operated 011 without hit consent; and second, that his daughter and himself were rudely treated and insulted by the resident surgeon 011 visiting the hospital. Incidentally Dunne alleged that his children contracted scarlet fever in the hospital. As to the operation, which was merely lancing a superficial abscess, though Dunne got (lie idea that something important was done requiring an hour's work, Dr. Logan stated tha/ Dunne first told him to use his own judgment, and then tc postpon." the operation, and he acted on the former permission. As to the alleged insults Dr. Logan ordered the girl out of the hospital ground because she persisted in going to the infections cases ward, and talking to her sister, a patient in the ward, after being told not to do so. Dunne himself was ordered off for looking through ail open window, though lie had been told not to go near the >vard. His idea that his children contracted scarlet fever in the hospital was disproved by the evidence of the resident and assistant surgeons. The committee will report their conclusions to the Beard.