HOSPITAL DISCHARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18774, 30 July 1924, Page 8

HOSPITAL DISCHARGE.

CENSURE BY CORONER.

BOARD CONDUCTS INQUIRY.

[BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A good deal of public interest is being taken here in the circumstances surrounds ing the discharge of the late Thomas Pet-' tit Kirk from hospital. An inquiry was held by the Hospital Board into the matter last evening. Kirk was admitted to the hospital on July 10 suffering from a fractured shinbone, and discharged on July 12. He died at his home on July ,16.- '

At the -inquest the coroner commented on the system of discharge. The, man was given crutches, and, with his wife's assistance, had to go three or four hundred yards to his home, the journey taking an hour.and a quarter. Death resulted from embolism, and medical evidence at the inquest and inquiry agreed that his painful walk had nothing to do with this development. - The board passed the following .lotion;—" The" board finds (1) that iri view of the directly conflicting evidence 1 it is unable to arrive at a definite conclusion as tpvthe various incidents alleged against roemfes. the hospital staff; (2) that the regulations laid down for' the discharge of patients were not strictly adhered to in this case. '-* The board will issue instructions for more rigid compliance with the regulations with the object of avoiding any grounds of possible misunderstanding on the part of patienis or relativeiur ;" ", ! '.■; ■'■)?■■''':' ; . ":\- : -'v : '.