A PHYSICIAN'S ETHICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 37

A PHYSICIAN'S ETHICS.

The question whether a phjsician has a right to betray (he seorets of pitients wat solved by Justice Hawkins, in a London kw court, on March 27, after one of the uioxt .extraordinary aud acrwatioual trials in the records of English jurisprudence.

The case was Kitson against Pbyfuir. The plaint ff is a d-vughter-iu-law of Sir James Kitson. The defendant is' an eminent physician of London, and the broMier of Lord Plajfair. He is alsa brother-in-law of the plaintiff.

The frets developed were, in brief,' that Mrs Kitson was seriously ill in - London about a year ago. Her hutbind was then in Australia, and she had dot seen him for inure than 'a year. She was attended by a Dr Williams, who, when the cue came up, suggested a consultation. Dr Pluyfair, who is a specialist, was c»lled in. She gubtnicted to an examination, and also an operatiun, «hich was performed by Dr Play fair, who became convinced that Mrs Kit«on wai not a fa.it.hful wife. She protested hor innocence, aud bejged for an opportunity to explain. Dr P; a) fair refiuevi, and made statements which, under the circumMar.ces, he felt , warranted to do. As the result, Sir James Kitson out off the annuity of £5000 which ho had allow ci her, dropped all social comuauoiratfon, and theu plaintiff was estranged from, society generally, Then she sent Cor' her husband, who staunchly believed in her honour, and brought a suit to vindicate her character. It Was a question of justice, not of medical ethics. Th? jurfga.-in charging the jury, said that the theocy advanced by tome of the medical men who appeared as witnesses, that it was always the duty of a physician to inform the public prosecutor that he suspected that a crime had been committed, ■" wu simply moo»troua." The judge's charge, although leaving the question both of fact and privilege to the jury, was strougly in favour of the plaintiff.

The. jury returned after a short retirement with probably the hiavie«t verdiot ever rendered in h slander case— £l2,ooo damage*. The announcement was received with chuecs. Mrs^ Kitson fainted, and ib was au ho\u* before shff regained consciousness ,