THE ABRAMS TREATMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 17

THE ABRAMS TREATMENT.

DR MACKENZIE’S APPEAL. MR MYERS FOR THE DEFENCE. (Pkb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 10. In the Appeal Court to-day, further argument was heard iu the appeal of Dr Dunuas Mackenzie against tho decision of Mr Justice Herdman given in favour of tho Medical Board of New Zealand ordering that tho appellant’s name should he removed from tho register of New Zealand. Mr M. Myers, K.C., continuing his address, said; I admit, in the case of Mrs Johnston, that if Dr Mackenzie told her she had cancer he should not lie on the roll. I am well aware that tho Judge has found against me on this point, but still I am prepared to show that wituoss was incorrect in her evidence. If I fail to prove this point, then I am prepared to lose tho ease. No admission could be fairer than that. I submit that if these ladies in tho case had been told they had cancer it would be a natural thing for them when subsequently consulting another doctor, namely, Dr Hardie Neil, to have informed him that cancer had been previously diagnosed. Would a person who had had diagnosis of cancer wait two years, as in this instance, before she returned to that doctor or went to another? Tho learned judge gave great weight to tho evidence of Dr Neil when he was undoubtedly in the position of prosecuting one of his own profession. Here is a man who writes to a fellow practitioner in the country enclosing samples of blood accompanied by incorrect statements concerning them and ending up by saying “X am on the square.” Yet tho learned judge accepted this man’s evidence without any hesitation. In Mrs Hunt’s case. Dr Mackenzie denies that lie told her she had cancer. He states that she misunderstood and believed that he had said she had cancer. She collapsed upon hearing this, and nothing he could do was of any avail to alter her incorrect opinion of what ho had said. Dr Mackenzie admits that if he had told her she' had cancer, which was not correct, then he had been undoubtedly guilty of fraud. She was in an extremely nervous condition, and was liable to minconstrue what he had told her as soon. as cancer had entered into their conversation. In reference to Shaw’s case, it was shown that after 19 treatments for what was afterwards stated to be cancer, the patient entered a hospital, and it was found ho had gall stones. I would point out that by Dr Sutton’s book, it is shown 1 that a gall bladder is a frequent scat of cancer.” Mr Myers then dealt with several other cases, and concluded his address, after which the, court adjourned till Monday.