GIRL'S TRAGIC DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 13

GIRL'S TRAGIC DEATH

NO MEDICAL AID MONTHS OF SUFFERING OPERATION OPPOSED faith healing ideas CENSURE BY THE COKONEB The distressing circumstances of the fatal illness of a young woman, Anita Kate Walker, single, aged 20, whose death occurred at her home, 13 Hollywood Avenue, Epsom, on June 9, were commented 'upon by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, at the inquest, which he concluded yesterday. The evidence showed that the deceased hncl;been without skilled attention for -several months before her death, and it was said that this was due to her reliance on faith healing. q„o of the medical witnesses, who was called in just after her death, said he had never seen a limb in a worse condition than that of deceased, and the coroner said, "It is the most distressing case I ever heard of." When the inquest was opened on June 10 evidence of identification was given, and it was adjourned to enable inquiry to bo made as to why medical aid had not been summoned. Sergeant \V. Brown represented the police when the inquiry was resumed yesterday.

The first witness. Dr. C. J. A. Griffin, said that at *6.30 p.m. on June 9 he was called to 13 Hollywood Avenue, Epsom, to see the deceased. Sho had bo£n dead for about an hour or so. The body was very emaciated and she had a large growth 011 the lower end of the right thigh. The skin had brokeu through above the knee joint, and the muscles of the thigh were exposed. The muscles were in a gangrenous state. He considered it was a malignant growth, probably sarcoma. There was also an ulcer on the back of the right leg, just below the knee. He considered the deceased died as a result of that - malignant disease. Sergeant Brown: Do you consider the deceased ' would have been suffering severe pain as the disease progressed ? Witness: \ should say so.

Would you say that proper medical attention would have alleviated the pain? —The pain could have been alleviated try proper medical attention. As far as I could see, there was no dressing or anything, but it might have been removed. Amputation Advised The Coroner: There was no sign of nnv medical dressing?—Xo. It should have been' attended to. What medical attention should she have had?—l understand she consulted Dr. Frank Maeky and Dr. Donald McKenzie, and they advised amputation of the Jimb. That would have checked a lot of suffering and tended to check secondary growth. I could not say whether it would have got rid of the whole trouble. She was' advised, I understand, to have this leg amputated, and she refused to do it? —That is what I understand. During these last six months she should have had proper medical and surgical attention?—l think she should have had sonic attention and some drug to ease the pain and make her life more comfortable. She was just allowed to drift along with nothing being done? —As far as 1 can gather. No Alleviation

What is the treatment that should have been given to her? —I consider that the ulcers should have been dressed aild painted, and also she should have been given sedatives or narcotics, and cleansing antiseptic lotions should have been used. How often should these dressings have been applied?— Probably twice a day. And from what you saw this dreadful disease had been allowed to run' its course without any alleviation? — That is so. Did you ever see a limb in a worse condition that this woman's? —Xever. in answer to Dr. Frank Maeky witness said lie had not examined the botlv to see if there were any other growths noticeable, but he thought it quite probable that there-were. Fondness For Dancing

Dr. Frank Macky s;iid that on Septoinbor .]!) of last year ho was consulted by the deceased? and lie had an A-ray taken. She complained of a painful swelling above the right knee, and he suspected it would be a sarcomatous tumour. The X-rav confirmed this, and at a subsequent interview he advised Iter relatives that she should be -subjected to an amputation .of the leg as the only method of saving her life. He had to advise that it was not absolutely certain that her life would nltiJiintely ln> saved, owing to the possibility o| secondary growths elsewhere. However. as none had started in the hing, her chane.es were quite good. He that without operation the growth would continue and break down and become an-ulcer, as had actually happened. I he principal objection to having the •t'g taken off, witness said, was that sue was so fond of dancing. The second objection was a financial one, but a trustee in the. estate advised him that that would lie all right. In any case, the operation could have been done I*ll fie public hospital. A few days later Dr. Donald Mc- , nzK ' informed witness that lie had )p cn called in, and they agreed that amputation was the correct treatment, fjc heard 110 more of the case until -patient's death, after which he was ' ? sket ' to supply a death certificate, but n 'as unable to do this.

The operation was severe and would have entailed a certain risk, but witness judged her quite fit to stand it. ]i she had stood it she had a reasonable chance of complete cure. She would have been definitely free from the liability to this horrible ulcer in the leg. Sergeant Brown: Was there any other reason put forward why the operation should not bo carried out? — 1 did not discuss it with the deceased at all.

Do you know of any case of this nature being cured by faith healing?— L certainlv do not.

Did the deceased's mother express the view that the deceased could be cured by faith healing?— Not to me. The Coroner: You have heard Dr. Griffin's description of the condition in which he found this poor creature? — That would not have happened if she had had surgical attention. Dr. McKenzie tried to tell them that that kind of thing would happen. Even if the prospect of saving life had been gone, it would have been worth doing to save her that suffering. A lot of things could have been done. The Coroner: Much could have been done to alleviate the suffering?— Yes. Need.ol Attention It was obviously a ease in which medical and surgical attention was required right through?—At the time I saw her she simply had pain, a sore knee, which stopped her from walking with ease. I do not know how soon it began to break down. From that time onward she would definitely need nursing attention; and as soon as it broke it would need surgical dressing. The Coroner: That ought to have been obvious to anybody. What T am concerned about is that this girl lay in this dreadful condition week after week with no narcotics, no surgical dressing, or anything to help her at all. —I cannot understand it, sir. Averse to Operation

Dr. Donald D. McKenzie said ho had visited the deceased at Iter home oti September *29 last, and formed the opinion that she had a sarcoma of the riglit thigh hone. He arranged to seo the X-ray Dr. Macky had taken, and Dr. Macky and ho agreed that amputation of the limb was necessary. FTe saw the deceased and her mother, but the deceased was very definitely averse to an operation. Her chief objection to amputation was her belief that faith would cure her and to a lesser degree that she would rather die than give up dancing.

" I asked her if she had seen any cures by faith," said witness, "and she could only recount one possible euro that she had seen. I pleaded with her for some time, but to no avail. Question of Religion

Sergeant Brown: Did you find out what sect sho belonged to?— Not definitely. I understand sho belonged to a church run by Mr. Dallimore, but I could not be sure of that. I knew a young lady who was a definite follower of Mr. Dallimore, and I asked her to visit the deceased and reason with her. The reason for that was that this girl's father had had his leg amputated, with material benefit.

Witness said he was definitely of opinion that the leg, as described by Dr. Griffin, should liavq had surgical treatment. The result shWed that she should have had amputation. She should have had constant medical and surgical treatment. He quoted Dr. Hey Groves' description of the present method of treatment of such cases, which favoured amputation or excision. Treatment of Oases

" Take it all down," said the coroner to the typist. " The case may go further." Witness quoted statistics of 504 cases of sarcoma, in 74 of which the patients were alive and well five years after treatment. Of these 39 had been treated by operation alone, and 35 bv operation followed by radiation and injection. The Coroner: It must have been obvious to anybody that she needed treatment? —We would treat any animal in that condition, let alone a human. The Mother Questioned Edith Marion Walker, mother of the deceased, said she had consulted Dr. Macky in September, 1936, about her daughter,, who was also examined by Dr. Donald McKenzic. Both diagnosed it as cancer and advised an operation. Dr. McKenzie strongly advised her daughter to undergo this, but she did not want to lose her leg. Sergeant Brown: I think she was an adherent of some faith-healing sect? — No, she was Church of England. She had been attending faith-healing meetings ? —Yes. Did you hear her express the view that sho could be cured by faith healing? —She thought that, as the doctors could not do anything, there might be a chance for her by faith healing. Faith-Healing Meetings

Did any person visit her from these faith-healing bodies? —Quite a lot of people came to see her. I did not know them all.

Did .Mr. Dallimore come to see her? —Xo.

Did she visit him?— Oil, she went to meetings. How often did she visit him? —I could not say. She occasionally went.

Sergeant Brown: "When the representatives of faith healing called, what did they do? Did they pray?—Oh, no. She did not have anybody like that. Friends came from her business. I did not know what they belonged to at all. Do you belong to this faith-healing sect?—! have been to the meetings. The Coroner: Why in the world did you not send for somebody to attend to this unfortunate girl?— She did not want it.

You are her mother.—She was afraid the authorities might send her away to hospital. , That is the reason, is it? You had this awful suffering for months, and you are her mother. " Mind ol Her Own "

Sergeant Brown; Do you know any member of the faith-healing sect who had anv influence over your daughter? —No. 'l think she had a mind of her own. The Coroner: You had a mind of your own, 1 suppose, too, leaving the girl lying like this! Sergeant Brown : Did you ever hear anvone .suggest to your daughter that she could be cured by faith healing? —No.

The Coroner: How often did she go to these meetings!"— Not very often. Once a week, twice a week." —Possiblv once a week. How did she get there ?—When she could walk she used to walk there.

How long hact she been unable to walk?—l could not say. She had not been anywhere for months. Did any faith healer visit her?— No. Did Mr. Dallimore visit her? —No. Doctor Not Called

Sergeant Brown: Did you accompany her to these meetings?—l have been with her.

The Coroner: Did she try handkerchief treatment? —J don't know.

The Coroner: That is how you stand You don't know.

Sergeant Brown: During the later stages of her illness did she suffer much pain?— Not so much at the last as she did at the first. , <3

Was anything done to relieve that pain?— Her leg was dressed morning and night. The Coroner: Who dressed it? What was it dressed with? You could not have dressed it properly.—My daughter has had part of her nurse's/ training. We had cotton wool and we used antiseptics.

Sergeant Brown: Did you ever suggest getting a doctor f —l was waiting every day for her to ask for a dose of morphia, but she did not. I had promised I would not send for the doctor.

The Coroner: But didn't you see she was a sick girl?— She never said she wanted it.

The Coroner: Oh, didn't you see? You are her mother. The poor creature had no attention whatever. Wo can't get any further with it than that. I think that is enough. Sergeant Brown: How long would she be confined to her bed? —The last six months. The Coroner: She should have had attention.—She was soothed far more than she would have been in hospital.

Soothed? How was she soothed?—lt would have been far easier for us for her to go to hospital. We went through all that to save her. / You have heard what has been said? —Well, we have asked her. You asked her? That is nonsense. Evidence of Sister Noni Nesbit Walker, an older sister of the deceased, said she had had a year's experience as a probationer at the Kaipata Hospital., She thought her sister should have had surgical treatment, but she did not want it. Witness gave her gauze and cotton wool and a solution of disinfectant. Tho Coroner: Why did you not have a doctor?— She did not want it. You could not force her. Force her? You could send for a doctor. She could not stop him coming in to the house, could she? Are you a member of a faith healing sect?—l have been.

And are still?— No. You have given it up, I suppose. Coroner's Comment

The coroner found that the cause of death was sarcoma. "After hearing the evidence," he said, "I consider that the mother of the deceased deserves tho severest censuro for not sending for medical aid for this unfortunate girl, who was left practically rotting away for tho last three or four months without any attention whatever.

"The description given of the wound by Dr. Griffin is shocking, and to think that such things exist now in our of science. Of course, the mother "is liable to bo prosecuted, and I am not going to say any more about it. It is the most distressing case I ever heard of."