WIFE TAKEN FROM HOSPITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26081, 19 February 1946, Page 4

WIFE TAKEN FROM HOSPITAL

PATIENT IN ISOLATION WARD CHARGE AGAINST MAORI (P.A.) PALMERSTON N., Feb.. 18. On a charge of assisting his wife to leave hospital, where she had been isolated because of tuberculosis which was said to be of a very infectious nature, a Maori, Hohepa te Oka Tamehana (Joe Thompson), was fined £5 in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Dr T. C. Lonie, medical officer of health, said he had served a notice on Mrs Thompson on November 10 ordering her into isolation, as she was suffering from tuberculosis of a very infectious nature. On December 12 he received word that she had been taken away. Prior to that Thompson telephoned to him asking that the order be revoked, but he had refused his consent. Thompson declared that he was determined his wife should leave, and she was taken away that night. The hospital sent an ambulance after her and she was taken back, and had since died. Few orders were, issued as a rule, but this was done when a patient was a great danger to others, especially children, and so that the patient would receive proper treatment. In a statement to the police Thompson said he did not agree with the doctors that his wife was suffering from tuberculosis. She was suffering from Maori sickness, and his opinion was confirmed by a tohunga. From the first he wanted to get his wife out oi hospital and each time he went to see her she asked to be taken away. He was of the opinion that if he could get her home he could cure her the Maori way. and declared that if she had been allowed to stay at home she would not have died.

Mr C. C. Marsack, S.M., pointed out to Thompson that isolation was the only way to ensure that the disease was not spread. Thompson’s action, however, was not wilful defiance of the law, but was brought about by affection for his wife.