A CHILD'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12402, 26 October 1903, Page 5

A CHILD'S DEATH.

MOTHER'S COMPLAINT.AGAINST. A , •" ' . .: ■ DOCTOR. ' ' Mr;' C4RTSSHAJI, coroner, held an inquiry on. Saturday at the Naval and Family Hotel, Newton) into the death of the child, Leia Noeline Pike,' aged two months, whose sudden death ; at'" its' mother's residence in Haydn-street, was reported in the Herald of Saturday morning. The-mother of the deceased, Mrs. E. M. Pike, deposed that the child was fairly .'strong. She had one peculiarity, however, viz., that if her mouth and nose were slightly covered she breathed with difficulty. The child'was taken ill on Thursday, and witness went for Dn'Bayntun, while her nurse, Mrs. Metcalfe, took charge of the baby. When she called on Dr. Bayntun, requesting him ,to come at once, "he asked me," Mrs. Pike said, "if I could pay his fee." I told him I thought my child "was dying, and that I could not pay his fee at once; but I would : guarantee it," my .-husband being away. He then asked me what the child seemed to suffer from. I said she seemed as if her heart could not act, and that she' could not breathe. He Said.he would not come.' He gave as a reasou for refusing to com© that X had not got the cash to pay him. I said to Dr. Bayn.tun, ' Well, doctor, if 1 cannot get another doctor and anything happens to her, I shall blame you, as you are the nearest doctor to me. "He said to me, ' Try and get Dr. Hooper. 1 ' I" replied, ' I think the child is 'seriously ill, and Dr. Hooper is too far away.' Dr. Bayntun had previously refused to come to my confinement. That was in August last. Dr. Bayntun has not rendered me or my husband or children any medical services, and we- owe him nothing." Witness then went on to say that she went to the police station and gave information to th» police, who readily telephoned to Drs. Hoouer and Darby, but neither of them • couls come. She returned to the child, having been away half-an-hour, but the infant died in the arms of the nurse, Mrs. Metcalfe, soon after her return.

-Dr. Alice Woodward, who made a postmortem examination, stated that the dej ceased was ! a healthy child and 9 well ; nourished. Death 'was' due to pneumonia. The.case was certainly a very urgent one. Had witness been the 'doctor applied to she would certainly" have attended the child at once.' Witness added, "1 know Dr. Bayntun is an old man. 1 know that he does not. like going out." The mother gave the child brandy and water. This was quite right, as the heart required a stimulant. ; "Mrs.' Metcalfe, the nurse, also gave evidence, and stated that she was convinced that Mrs. Pike bestowed every care on the ;Child.""'.: ' : ' ' ."• ' i" The jury after a brief retirement, returned i verdict to the effect that the cause of death was pneumonia, and added: '"The jury de- . sire to have it placed on record that the conduct of Dr. Bayntun in refusing to attend the deceased when requested is worthy of ".ensure." " " "'.,'■ "'