LEFT HOSPITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23169, 15 October 1938, Page 16

LEFT HOSPITAL

NO PRECAUTION TAKEN woman with scarlet fever DANGER TO THE PUBLIC Charges relating to tho action of a woman with scarlet fever leaving the isolation ward of the Auckland Hospital und going to her home wero preferred against the woman and her hus.band, in the Police Court yesterday. Edna Baldwin pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully being in a public! jitlaee without having taken proper precaution against tho spread of scarlet fevor, from which she was suffering. James Baldwin admitted a charge of assisting his wife in tho commission of tlie offence. Sub-Inspector Fox said Mrs. Baldwin was admitted to hospital on August IG. Before her period of isolation expired, Mr. Baldwin applied to take his wife home. Permission was refused, the danger to the patient and other persons being pointed out. The woman was missed from tho ward on the night of September 3, and when police went to her homo tho husband said she was not there and invited a search. She was found under a bed, and returned to hospital. No Serious Results "There were no serious results to anyone in this case, but there is extreme danger to the public when a per-, son, suffering from an infectious disease, ignores tho instruction of the authorities and leaves isolation," said Mr. Fox. "It is hoped that this prosecution may prevent other persons, suffering from infectious diseases, from leaving hospital without permission." Mr. Noble, counsel for defendants, said the aim of the prosecution was to call public attention to the matter. Mrs. Baldwin was a young and highlynervous woman, who had never been in. Court before, and her appearance there was probably sufficient punishment. She acted on the wish of her husband in committing the offence. Being in poor circumstances, ho wanted her to leave the hospital. Danger to Ohlldren "Common senso should have dictated the dancer of spreading the disease," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M. "There is a liability of £lO in this ease, but that is not the biggest penalty. Tho thought of spreading such a disease among children, and the misery it might cause, should be enough to prevent people from taking such an action as this woman did, although her husband is more to blame than she." The' wife was ordered to come up for sentence within three months if called upon, and her husband was ordered to pay costs, 10s.