X-RAY INQUIRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9736, 11 August 1917, Page 7

X-RAY INQUIRY

A RUMOUR REFUTED RETURNED SOLDIER’S CASE. Tho case of Private Hill, who sustained X-ray injuries at the Dannevirke Hospital some time ago, was referred ro in tho House of Representatives last night by Dr Thacker, M.P. for Christchurch East, who stated that Hill at present lay under the unjust imputation that he had suffered from a certain disease. The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Public Health) asked the indulgence of tho House to make an explanatory statement. He did not wish to refer to the general aspect of tho case, which would no doubt come before the House at the proper time; hut he thought it only right that he should make a brief explanation. Tho case was that or a returned soldiei who was treated with Xrays in DannevirKo Hospital, and took action against tho hospital for £li‘JOU damages. Tho case was settled out of court, with the full consent of the solicitor to tho hospital, the solicitor to the plaintiff, and the Minister, the arrangement being that tho hospital was to pay £650 and the Government £650; so that £I3OO altogether was paid to the unfortunate man. The non. member had said that there was a report being circulated in tho district that tho unfortunate man was suffering from some other complaint. In case that might be misunderstood, he wished to say on behalf of this soldier, who fought and was wounded in his country’s service, that no suggestion was made in any of the papers or medical reports in connection with the case that the unfortunate man suffered from anything else hut his wound and tho injury from the Xrays; and he wanted to say that no such statement could he made against the man. (Hear, hear.)