CHILD DIES IN HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 7

CHILD DIES IN HOSPITAL

CORONER EXONERATES STAFF,

(WHOOPING COUGH PATIENT.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wellington, January 15. How a 13-months-old baby suffering from whooping cough died in the Wellington Public Hospital from asphyxiation was related at the inquest on James Francis McGreevy. In ’exonerating the hospital staff from any blame Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M„ the coroner, said the evidence had satisfied him that the accident could not have been reasonably anticipated. “It- might,” he said, “be ascribed to a misadventure,” The medical evidence showed that the bpy had been suffering from whooping cdqgh fot the past month and was admitted to the Seddon ward on December 17 because of bronchitis occurring. His Condition improved the day following admission and a subsequent examination showed no abnormality of the heart or lungs. He had occasional slight spasms of coughing followed by minor whooping, but did not vomit at any time while in the hospital. On the morning of December 21 his condition was very satisfactory, but in the afternoon he was found dead from an apparent cause.

A post-mortem examination showed that the child had vomited and inhaled vomited mat/rial, thereby causing death by asphyxia. Such an accident could happen when the child vomited during a spasm of coughing. This was a very unusual accident in the case ofiwhooping cough. It was thought that the fact that the child was lying down would make it more likely.