REFUSED OPERATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 9

REFUSED OPERATION

YOUNG WOMAN’S DEAlfc LAY ROTTING FOR MONTHS CRITICISM OF MOTHER (Pur Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night.

“After hearing the evidence, i consider that the mother of the deceased deserves the severest censure for not obtaining medical aid for this unfortunate girl, who lay practically rotting away for three or four months, without any proper attention. It .’s the most distressing case I have ever heard.” This was the rider added to Ijis finding by Mr. F. K. Hunt, the coroner, at an inquest to-day touching the death ol Anita K. Walker, aged 21 years, at her home, Hollywood avenue, Epsom, on June 9.

Dr. C. J. A. Griffin stated that he was called in to sec the girl. She was then dead and had been so, he judged, fot about an hour. The girl’s body was very emaciated and there was a large growth on the right thigh just above the knee. The skin just above the knee had been broken, exposing muscles, which were in a gangrenous state. It was, in his opinion, a malignant growth, probably sarcoma. There was also an ulcer on the back of the right leg below the knee. He could see no sign of any dressing on the wound, although it was possible that any dressing there might have been removed. In his opinion advanced sarcoma was the cause of death. There would probably have been considerable pain suffered by the patient and that could have been alleviated by proper medical attention.

“Never Seen a Worse Case”

Replying to the coroner, Dr. Griffin said that "from a conversation he had in the house at the time, he was given the impression that the girl had consulted two doctors in September, when amputation of the leg had been advised, and that since then the girl had had no medical attention. Amputation would have eased her suffering and might perhaps have prolonged her life. In his opinion cleansing lotions should have been applied and the wound dressed twice a day, and sedatives and narcotic drugs given to the patient at the same time to relieve the pain. He had never seen a wound in a worse state.

Dr. Frank Macky and Dr. Donald D. McKenzie detailed their consultations with the girl in September last year when an X-ray of the growth was made and amputation of the leg was advised, with the advice that it would probably effect a cure, as no secondary growth from the sarcoma was disclosed by the X-ray film. Dr. Macky stated that his discussion on the quetsion of amputation of the leg was with the girl’s mother, who declined to sanction the operation, partly ■because it would deprive the girl -of the pleasure of dancing, of which she was very fond, and partly for financial reasons. He could not understand a

person not having medical attention for a wound such as that described by Dr. Griffin. Girl Refused Amputation Dr. McKenzie said he had discussed the question of amputation of the leg with both the girl and her mother. The girl was very much against it. her chief objection to amputation was primarily her belief that faith would cure her and, to a lesser degree, that she would rather die than give up dancing. Asked if she had known of anyone cured by faith, she recounted one possible cure. He pleaded with her but without avail. Witness asked a young woman to visit the girl and reason with her. The reason was that witness had attended the second girl’s father and had amputated his leg, with definite and material benefit to the patient. That girl failed to persuade Miss Walker to agree to amputation. Witness agreed with Dr. Macky that the girl should have had medical and surgical treatment throughout, even though she had refused to allow amputation of her leg. Edith Marion Walker, mother of the dead girl, staled that she was a married woman, separated from her husband. Witness stated that both Dr. Macky and Dr. McKenzie had advised that her daughter should have an operation for her complaint. Her daughter's objection to the amputation of her leg was that she did not want to lose her leg. The daughter belonged to the Church of England and did not belong to any “sect.” The girl thought that as the doctors could not do anything, she might have something done by faith healing. Witness never heard anyone suggest Hint her daughter could be cured by faith healing. Liability of Prosecution The coroner: Why didn't you send for .someone to attend to her? —Because she didn't want anyone. She was afraid the authorities would take her to the hospital and have her leg amputated. But you had her in this awful condition for months? —I left it entirely to her. She had a mind of her own. Witness stated that another daughter dressed the wound night and morning, using cotton wool. She used disinfectants in the room, but not on the wound, as it was too painful. Anita was in bed for six months. The daughter who attended to the sick girl had had nursing experience.

Replying to the coroner, the witness said that the girl was soothed far more in her home than she would have been in hospital. It would have been easier for witness had the girl gone to hospital and had the leg amputated, and though she urged the girl to do so, she would not agree to that or have a doctor.

Noni Nesbit Walker stated she was 22 years of age and had had a year’s general nursing experience as a probationer. She dressed her sister’s leg regularly with gauze cotton wool and a weak solution of disinfectant. She could not force her sister to have medical treatment. The coroner found, in accordance with the medical evidence, that the cause of death was sarcoma. He added the comment stated above and concluded by stating that’as there was a liability of prosecution, he would not. comment further.