UNREGISTERED MIDWIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18533, 18 October 1923, Page 7

UNREGISTERED MIDWIFE.

" WITH BEST INTENTIONS." FINE OF £2 IMPOSED. The hearing of the .case" against Mrs. ! E. Smith, who was charged ' with,being". an unregistered midwife, ; was v; continued yesterday at the Police Court ' before Mr.' J. W. Poynton, S.M.' I Mr. Paterson, for f the Health ./Depart- I . me'nt, stated that defendant had attended; a maternity ease at Point 3 Chevalier./; ; She did not,. obtain the services of a doc- j tor, arid the infant %ad developed : jaun j ' dice and died after 12 days. •* Evidence % ' previously been given by Dr. Share that the child would have '; lived if medical i aid had been obtained at an v earlier stage. ' : " The department warned defendant, over a year ago, : that she was not to practice as a midwife," said Mr. Paterson. • Mr. J. J. Butler, for the /defence, con- : tended that there ,had been no misrepre- , sentation, and Mrs. Smith had not been ' . asked if she was registered. #; She did/allj: the / housework ■■:. during . the ':, incapacity of the mother of ■.. the child , and she had not asked for a doctor, to attend the confinement as she ' considered she was I' thoroughly competent.' Defendant wished to reduce expenses,, as she knew the family ■ was in, poor circumstances. Mrs, Smith ; had had over six years' nursing experience'/at Ngaruawahia,/arid, was" considered > to, be a very capable nurse. This was the iirst instance- in which she had undertakeli a maternity case without the assist- ■; ance of a doctor. The magistrate said - ho' would -.; take the > plea that defendant had'; wished to reduce % expenses into consideration. He// considered she ; was actuated by , ihe best inten-' tions, and she had shown great kindness! inundertaking the household duties. "In I these circumstances I will not. inflict a heavy- penalty," said -Mr.-Poynton. -■• A fine of £2 was imposed, with costs, £10 Bs. .