DISEASE IN HOSPITAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21195, 28 November 1930, Page 12

DISEASE IN HOSPITAL.

WELLINGTON BOARD’S ACTION. PROTECTION AGAINST LIABILITY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 27. In future before patients are admitted to the Wellington Hospital they will be required to . sign a statement to the effect that they understand that the hospital does not accept any liability should they contract any disease while in the institution, “ I think you know Purpose of this,” said the chairman (Mr F. Castle) at a meeting of the board to-day, when the proposal was brought forward by the General Committee. The object, he said, was to bring under the notice of the public the fact that the board did not accept legal responsibility for any disease contracted by a patient after his or her admission to hospital. Sometimes cases of cross infection occurred, and it was not easy to trace the source of infection. , There .were some people who tried to place the blame upon the hospital. That was hardly fair to the staff* as every precaution was taken to prevent infection. Mr A. J. M'Gurdy: Sometimes it is contracted from visitors. The chairman: Quite so. The source may be external. Mr d. H. Helliwell suggested that the question was of sufficient importance to be discussed by the annual conference of the Hospital Board’s Association. Mr C, M. Luke said he believed several hospitals had adopted the practice now proposed in Wellington. Mr Helliwell: I think it should' be incorporated in legislation.