DEATH OF YOUTH

Southland Times, Issue 21198, 26 September 1930, Page 8

DEATH OF YOUTH

INQUEST AT GISBORNE COLLAPSE DURING AN OPERATION ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION FAILS (Per United Press Association.) Gisborne, September 25. An inquest was held to-day into the circumstances surrounding the death of a six-teen-year-old boy, Joseph Arthur Parker, which occurred at a private hospital on September 17 when the patient was under an anaesthetic. Medical evidence was given to the effect that the lad was admitted to hospital suffering' from cut tendons on the right hand caused by putting his hand through a glass door when chasing his sister at home. The lad had last had a meal nearly five hours before the operation. The operation was nearly finished when the patient commenced to vomit. He vomited four times, then the operating surgeon noticed that the anaesthetist was having trouble.

The anaesthetist said he thought that some blood had got into the larynx. An operation for tracheotomy was started (jml the patient appeared as though he were breathing. Artificial respiration was tried, but with no effect and tracheotomy was performed, but the boy did not breathe. While keeping up artificial respiration one doctor found a large piece of undigested meat in the trachea. The doctors were still unable to get air into the lung. Then a second piece of meat was found in the larynx and then a third piece. After that for the first time there was an entry of air into the lungs. An incision was made in the upper abdomen and the heart massaged, but all efforts were unsuccessful. Then the doctors realized that the lad was dead.

The acting-Coroner (Mr A. G. Beere, Justice of the Peace) and a jury of four returned a verdict that death was due to asphyxia while under an anaesthetic and that all reasonable care and ail the usual precautions appeared to have been taken in connection with the operation.