PATIENTS’ CONFIDENCES

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1929, Page 11

PATIENTS’ CONFIDENCES

HOSPITAL DOCTORS’ POSITION OBJECT TO “'COMMON INFORMING.” MAGISTRATE’S RULING CRITICISED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, December 20. Several members of the Hospital Board took exception at the meeting last night to the recent remarks of tlie coroner, Mr. J. B. Bartholomew, S.M., at the inquest into the death of a young woman in the public hospital from the effect of an illegal operation. The fact was that she told the hospital floctors that such an operation had been performed. This was not notified till after her death, and the coroner had expressed the view that the medical officer in a public hospital was- in a different situation from a privately practising doctor, and that the. police should be notified. Dr. Newlands, at tlie board meeting, stated it was universal that suspected illegal abortion cases should be sent to the hospital. If a difference were made ■between the relationship of a doctor in a public institution and that of a doctor in an outside institution, a serious error would be committed, even, though it was legal. The first essential between a doctor and patient was that confidence should not be violated. It seemed to him invidious that a privilege allowed legally to lawyers and by custom to clergymen was withheld from doctors. The magistrate, in laying down that a ■medical man should be a common informer, went outside his jurisdiction, altogether.. The chairman, Mr. Knight, held also that there should be no distinction between a doctor in private practice and the medical staff of a hospital board.