HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 45

HOSPITAL INQUIRY

GISBORNE, January 16. The Royal Commission inquiry into afliairs at the Cook County Hospital has concluded its preliminaries, and commenced taking evidence to-day. Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., is the Commissioner, and there aro seven solicitors engaged on behalf oi various parties, including Mr M. Myers (of Wellington), who appears on behalf of the petitioners for tho inquiry. Dr Scott, a local practitioner, is -watching tho proceedings on his own behalf and on behalf of Nurse Higgins. In the course of evidence, J. C. Field (chairman of tho Petitioners' Committee) submitted a recommendation that tho _ Goveriment should pass legislation prohibiting medical men in practice holding seats on a hospital board, the petitioners 6tating that their experience was that such conditions led to unrest. The Commissioner said that if circumstances warranted it he would make suoh a recommendation to his Excellency. Howard Kenway (ex-ohairman of the Hospital Board) gavo evidence covering affairs at the hospital during the last 10 years. Dr Wilson, in the course of his evidence, expressed the opinion that it was not > in the best interests of a hospital that medical men interested in private hospitals should be members of the Hospital Board. Witness also made allegations respectiig the treatment of a couple of oases which he had sent to the hospital. Tho inquiry 'was adjourned until tomorrow. Tho proceedings promise to be lengthy and tedious. So far no specific charges have been mado, the evidence being mainly a lengthy history of hospital affairs. January 17. The Hospital inquiry was continued "today. Dr Walter Reeve, a member of the honorary medical staff, said that ho acted as superintendent during the superintendent's holiday. He reviewed cases of unrest at tho hospital, which he attributed to attempts to enforce discipline among tho Staff after a long term of laxity. Witness was questioned by Mr Myers, counsel for the petitioners, regarding certain allegations against Dr Bowie, medical superintendent at the hospital. Referring to the case of Mrs White, who was operated on in March, Mr Myers asked : Who performed the operation ? Witness: Dr Bowie and I. Did anything happen in the first operation that should not have been done? — Yes, the bladder was opened when perhaps it was not desirable. Was it an accident? —Yes; one which often happens in highly-skilled hands. That necessitated several operations?— Yes. Do you remember, shortly after the operation, being in charge of the hospital and something being reported to you?—Yes; the sister showed me a swab which had been removed from the body. The dressing should not have, fallen into the bladder. The presence of the dressing was tho fault of the dresser who dressed the wound. So the presence of the dressing fn the wound was not due to any fault of Dr Bowie? —Oh, no. Have you heard any statements from Dr Bowie detrimental of Matron Tait?—Yes; he said' she was lacking in tact, did not handle the nurses properly, and on one occasion he referred to her as suffering from delusions. Do you remember when ho told you about her?-—About a year ago. Have you discussed tho matter with him since ?—No. I do not remember what tho details were, but I know there was friction between the two heads of the institution at the time. You have seen the matron over and over again? —Yes. • Have you noticed any justification for any statements derogatory ?—No, certainly not. Tlio Commissioner (Mr Bishop, S.M.): What was the impression Dr Bowie left in your mind when he said she was suffering from delusions? —Ordinarily, when that is said wo think they are rapidly qualifying for a mental hospital. That was the impression made in my mind. Mr Wauchop (one of the parties): Which, of course, meant that she was more or less incapable of conducting her duties, and, of course, you would consider her a great danger ? Did you take that meaning from what Dr Bowie said —that she was in such a mental state that she could not carry on her work? —Yes. Was not this what Dr Bowie said : That she was suffering from delusions of persecution by Drs Collins and Scott, and that be was in league with tho nurses? Is that Hot what he conveyed to you?—He might have said 'something of that kind. But I want you to remember, for it means a great deal to a medcal man, and, of course, you want to seo fair play to a brother doctor.—He commenced by saying: "I am something of a specialist in mental disease, and I have been watching the matron ever since she came to the institution, and she is suffering from delusions." Ho referred to delusions of persecutions. Was that not it?—No. Then, the impression he left on you was that the matron was mad ?—That is a rather heavy definition. There are many degrees of mental affliction. Other witnesses examined were Dr Kahlenborg and Dr Wilson (ox-superintendents at the hospital), and G. W. Humphreys (exchairman of the board). "Hie inquiry is developing slowly. The principal questions so far relate to the resignation, under pressure by tho matron, of Nurse Higgins for insubordination and her subsequent reinstatement and transfer after inquiry by departmental officers and the Minister and tho treatment of certain specific cases, including that of Mrs White, at tho hospital. January 18. . T>r> T-Top.nital Commission was occupied nearly all day with the evidence of Matron Tait, who reviewed at length events at the institution since the beginning of 1916. attributed thfi trouble at fdw hospital to a long-standing lack of discipline and the resentment of the staff when she enforced discipline. She stated that Dr Bowie and herself did not work harmoniously, and this accentuated the trouble.

The petitioners' caso is nea'ring conclu sion.