DEATH OF CHILD IN HOSPITAL

Southland Times, Issue 24369, 25 February 1941, Page 6

DEATH OF CHILD IN HOSPITAL

BOARD COMMITTEE'S REPORT (United Press Association) AUCKLAND. February 24. The opinion that no fault was attachable to any member of the hospital staff, and that there was no understaffing in the ward concerned, was expressed by the complaints committee in a report to the Auckland Hospital Board dealing with the recent death by asphyxiation of a child aged five months and 10 days. The committee said it had accepted the assurance of the acting medical superintendent, Dr W. Gilmour, that the accident was one which might happen at any time. The child died at the hospital on January 31. At the time it was fastened in a jacket to prevent it from scratching itself.

The complaints committee reported receiving a letter from Mr F. K. Hunt, Coroner, who had conducted the inquest into the child's death. Mr Hunt asked the board to give consideration to the fact that “at the time of death only one nurse was in attendance on over 20 children, three of them infants in these jackets, who should have been constantly under observation.” He asked if there were not pillows now made through which a child could breathe if it turned on its face, and said the pillow used in this case was too large. He also asked if tapes could not be fastened to prevent the child from turning over.

Reporting on the matter Dr Gilmour said he had looked into the nursing attention and did not think there was any negligence. He submitted reports from members of the nursing staff concerned.

The complaints committee said it gave its finding after a complete investigation and after full consideration. The chairman, Mr Allan Moody, said the sub-committee carried out a thorough investigation and he was sure the Coroner would not have made the remarks he did had he had the information which was before the committee. The child was under constant supervision and at the time it died the ward was over-staffed rather than understaffed. Had there been negligence the committee would have said so. The matters raised by the Coroner in his letter were being gone into by members of the staff. The Rev. W. C. Wood said he thought the committee had missed its way very seriously. “I think the whole question is one of technique and that is where we have fallen down,” he said. “Putting the child in a straight jacket robbed it of its power to adjust its position. There is serious blame, in so much as the technique of the institution failed to meet the case.” Mr Victor Macky disagreed with Mr Wood, saying he did not think the board could interfere with established medical practice. Mr Moody said the parents of the child were perfectly satisfied with the attention given.

The report was adopted, Mr Wood dissenting.