DOCTOR CRITICISED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19887, 15 March 1939, Page 7

DOCTOR CRITICISED

“BROKE SACRED OATH” MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT SYDNEY. Feb. 9. Mr. Hardwick, S.M., criticised Dr. Ludwig August Kortum, of Auburn, during the hearing of a charge in the Parramatta Police Court yesterday, saying that he had "broken his sacred oath, and sacrificed the safety of his patient and the public, for the paltriness of a few shillings fee.” Mr. Harwick made this comment after having heard evidence from Dr. Kortum on the condition of Neil Johnson, aged 31, butcher, of Granville, early on January 25, when Johnson was taken to the Granville lock-up on charge of having driven a motor car while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. The magistrate convicted Johnson on the charge and fined him £ls. Dr. Kortum, during his evidence, said that he had been in practice at Auburn for 19 years, and had attended Johnson and his family on previous occasions. When he was called to Granville police station at about 3 a.m. on January 25, he said, he had carried out certain tests on Johnson. Co-ordination Excellent.

He struck a match to have a look at Johnson’s eyes, and found there was a very faint injection of the cornea. In his opinion, Johnson’s coordination was excellent. Johnson walked a straight line. His hands were steady and he was steady on his feet. He had had drink, but he was quite capable of driving a car. A man who had had six dtanks of beer between G p.m. and 2.15 a.m. would still be capable of driving a motor car.

“As far as I can remember, Johnson pulled out a roll of notes while I was at the station,” said Dr. Kortum. "I said to him, ‘I am trying to get you out of it, and you are going on like this.’ ”

In answer to the police prosecutor, Sergeant Briese, Dr. Kortum said he made that statement because Johnson had been drinking. “We always try and get them out of these sort.; of things,” he added. Mr. Hardwick: Behind it all, is there not this factor to be considered —the safety of the defendant’s life and the safety of others? ■ Dr. Kortum: I considered the defendant was capable of driving a car Constable Whitby said that Johnson had produced a roll of notes at the police station and offered to bet him. £2O that he was not drunk.