WORK IN MORTUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22574, 12 November 1936, Page 15

WORK IN MORTUARY

POSITION OF PRACTITIONERS WAIHI HOSPITAL ATTITUDE [by telegraph —owx correspondent] WAIHI, Wednesday The question of other medical practitioners being present at post-mortem examinations conducted by the medical superintendent in the hospital mortuary was discussed at a meeting of the Waihi Hospital Board last night. The matter was introduced by a letter from the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt. Dr. Watt referred to what he termed an unfortunate incident during an inquest. On that occasion the medical superintendent, Dr. A. Jenkins, at the request of the coroner, agreed to permit Dr. L. R. Hetherington, a former medical superintendent, to enter the hospital mortuary and make a second post-mortem examination. Dr. Jenkins said he would not agree to its being taken as a precedent. Dr. Watt pointed out in his letter that there was 110 public mortuary in Waihi and suggested that the matter might be placed on a satisfactory basis if a contract were entered into with the Borough Council for the use of the hospital mortuary as a public mortuary at a nominal rental. The chairman of the board, Mr, F. Ward, said that if the suggestion were agreed to then any doctor could use the mortuary for a post-mortem examination. Dr. Jenkins said someone had forwarded statements to the department without consulting him. He had refused to agree to Dr. Hetherington being present at the first post-mortem because the latter had not approached him personally. The post-mortem had been conducted with his colleague, Dr. T. E. Ashley, and it was not until the Court proceedings, that the request was made for permission for Dr. Hetherington to hold another post-mortem. The Chairman: The position is whether the board is agreeable to enter into a contract with the Borough Council as suggested by Dr. Watt. The following resolution was carried: —"That the Minister of Health be notified that our medic; J superintendent is agreeable at any time to work with another doctor in any postmortem inquiry of the kind if he is notified in a proper manner."