UNLICENSED HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 7

UNLICENSED HOSPITAL.

CHARGE AGAINST A NURSE.

FINE' OF 55s IMPOSED.

The Health. Department instituted a prosecution against .Mrs. .Arnold (Mr. Ray), a nurse, in the Police Court yesterday, before. Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. Defendant was charged with having used her house as & private hospital without the authority of a license. There} were two charges, one of which was dismissed. Mr. Patterson, who appeared for the prosecution said the Act provided for a fine of £5 for each day that a house was $o used. Defendant was charged with having used the house as a hospital between October 21 and November 3 of last year. Evidence would be called to show that two maternity patients had been in the house at- the same time. Defendant, who had lived at Glen Eden for ,5£ years, had been warned in 1921 that she was liable to be prosecuted. She had been convicted twice before.

For the defence, it was contended that, under the circumstances, it would have been almost criminal to turn the second patient away. Defendant made it a custom of keeping only one patient at & time, and that was allowable. A fine of 55s was imposed. Costs and expenses brought the total to £9 17s 2d.