DEATH OF MINER

Southland Times, Issue 25547, 15 December 1944, Page 8

DEATH OF MINER

CLAIM AGAINST BOARD DROPPED Information that a writ against the Southland Hospital Board for £3OOO damages for alleged negligence involving the death of David Lindsay Baird, late of Nightcaps, which was filed in the Supreme Court on December 21, 1943, had been dropped, was given by the secretary (Mr A. M. Williams) at a meeting of the board at Riverton yesterday. Baird, who was a miner, was admitted to hospital in July and died in the same month. The chairman (Mr T. Golden) stated that he was anxious to make it clear that there was no reflection on the members of the staff, because of Baird’s death. It had been no fault of the board that the action had been brought. “I think that it is in the interests of the medical staff at the hospital that this statement should be made,” he said. Mr W. M. Norman: Dr Hunter (the Medical Superintendent at the hospital) was rather concerned about the impression gained by the issuing of the writ. He assured me that there had been no neglect at the hospital. “When the plaintiff decided to drop the claim we should have had an acknowledgment from Mrs Baird that the hospital staff was in no way to blame,” said Mr G. W. Whittingham. The secretary said that the action was brought on December 21, 1943. “It should be emphasized,” he said, “that the board has had its case prepared for 12 months and that it was dropped by the plaintiff and not at the request of the board. There might be a feeling that the staff was to blame. The case was never brought forward by the plaintiff and has now been discontinued.” Mr Norman: We want to clear our staff.