DOCTOR SUED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 15

DOCTOR SUED

ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE TREATMENT OF INJURY PATIENT CLAIMING £922 [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday Allegations that ho had failed to exercise that standard of care which members of the medical profession owed their patients formed the basis of a claim for damages brought against Dr. Kenrick Dean, of Palmerston North, in the Supremo Court by Mrs. Olive Rita Paterson, of Palmerston North, dressmaker. Tlio amount of general damages claimed was £750 and special damages £172 6s. In outlining tho case, counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. L. G. 11. Sinclair, said that on November 24, 1936, Mrs. Paterson had fallen from tho pillion seat of a motor-cycle while it was in motion and injured her knee, so that it remained bent and she was unable to straighten it. Dr. Dean was called in and ho advised hot packs every two hours and iodine paintings. There was no improvement, and four weeks later Dr. King was called in to manipulate tho limb in an endeavour to straighten it. Dr. King had not wanted to proceed before an X-ray examination had been madq, but Dr. Dean had told him to go ahead. Tho limb was kept in splints for a week, and then Dr. Dean prescribed hot baths of threo hours' duration, with instructions to try the limb by pressing the foot against the bottom ot the bath and working tho leg up and down. This had resulted in the knee swelling, continued counsel. Mrs. Paterson was far from satisfied and asked for an X-ray examination, which was made, and a small portion of bone was found to bo fractured. She was sent to hospital under the care of another doctor for treatment, and after that sho consulted Dr. Williams, who performed an operation which resulted in a considerable improvement to tho knee. The allegations were that Dr. Dean negligently failed _to diagnose tho nature of tho injury, negligently treated it by improper, incorrect and ineffective methods, and allegedly continued such improper treatment when he knew, or ought to have known, that the treatment was not appropriate in the circumstances.

The Court adjourned at tho conclusion of tho plaintiff's case.