DELAY IN MAN’S BURIAL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 9

DELAY IN MAN’S BURIAL

INVESTIGATION BY BOARD REPORTS ABSOLVE STAFF MEMBERS CHAIRMAN MAKES STATEMENT. CAUSE OF DELAY EXPLAINED. The delay in the burial of an elderly man, James Gray, who died at the New Plymouth Public Hospital on September 11, was the subject of a statement by the chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board (Mr. P. E. Stainton) at the monthly meeting yesterday, following reports by the medical superintendent (Dr. G. F. Rich) and other staff members. The substance of the chairman’s statement was that, in his opinion, judging from the reports, the apparent indifference of the relatives communicated with was the main cause of the delay in burial. After regiet had been expressed that the chairman had been censured by a weekly newspaper in connection with the matter for which he was in no way responsible, the reports were received and the matter not discussed further. The chairmans statement was as follows: — “The delay in the burial of the late James Gray is to be regretted, and adequate steps have been taken to avoid any similar occurrence in the future. I would point out, however, that my investigations show that the procedure that has been in operation at the hospital for a number of years past, the immediate notifying of the relatives if in New Zealand, was followed on the death of Mr. Gray. I am pleased to say that with this one exception the relatives have treated the position as one of ordinary common decency, even if not a duty, to take charge of the body and pay their last respects. / However, judging from the reports, the apparent indifference of the nephews, Messrs. Gray brother’s, Okau, is, in my opinion, the main cause of the delay in burial in the case under review and has brought home the necessity for providing against such cases.” Mr. Stainton added that no complaint had yet been received by the board from Gray brothers. SUPERINTENDENT’S VERSION. The report on the late 'Mr. James Gray submitted by the medical superintendent was: “The patient was admitted to hospital On September 11, 1933, at 10.45 a.m., suffering from broncho pneumonia and cardiac failure. His address was given as Jubilee Boarding House, New Plymouth, and his next of kin Mr. Archibald Gray, brother, TokomarU. . The relatives came in with the patient, but early in the afternoon the nephew rang inquiring about his condition, which was reported as serious. He asked whether it would be early enough-to come in next day to see him, but was advised to come in aS soon as possible as the patient was very critical. No relatives, however, appeared before Gray’s death, which occurred at 3.50 p.m.’ “After much difficulty the nephews were located at Okau. The sister of the ward left instructions for a message to be sent to them, Which was definitely sent by the telephone cadette, Miss Humphreys, within a half-hour of the death of the patient, notifying them of the death, and particularly asking them whether. We or they should notify the brother. They repliefl that Archibald Gray, the brother, lived at Milton, and not at Tokomaru, but they Would get in touch with him.' This they apparently did, but on obtaining no reply from the brother they did not notify us in any Way that they could not get in touch with him, nor-did'they at any time let Us know during the next week that they or any other relatives would not be responsible for the burying of the patient. _ “Ordinarily after a patient’s relatives are notified of his death and they have agreed to take whatever action is necessary the hospital does not do anything further in the matter of burying the patient. In this case the nephews having agreed to get in touch with the relatives we -assumed that they would attend to the matter or let us know if they had any difficulty in doing so. REFERENCE TO BROTHER. “It was first reported to me that he was Still in the mortuary on the Monday morning, September 19. I telephoned the nephews at Okau and inquired why he had not been buried. They replied to the effect that they did not hold themselves responsible as they were not in a position to pay—that the patient’s brother at Milton was, and that the responsibility' should be his. They gave no explanation as to why they had not notified us during the intervening period that they could not get in touch with his brother. “1 consider that the nephews, were in error, having accepted responsibility to get in touch with the brother, failing in their duty to notify us that they could not do so. I am enclosing Statements of the ward sister and the telephone cadette, both of whom are concerned in this matter.”

Sister G. McKinstry (ward sister) reported that Mr. Gray was admitted to the hospital on September 11. He gave his next of kin as Mr. Archibald Gray (brother), Tokomaru. “After lunch . a nephew rang to inquire for Mr. Gray,” stated the report, “and I informed him his condition was serious. He then asked if it would do if he feme in to-morrow. I replied that I thought if he wished to see Mr. Gray alive he had better come soon. However, no one came. Mr. Gray’s condition became worse and he died at 3.50 p.m. the same day. I got in touch with the proprietress of the Jubilee Boarding House (where Mr. Gray resided) at once and was informed that Messrs. Gray brothers, Okau, were nephews. A telephone call was then put through notifying them of the death and they were especially asked whether the hospital authorities would inform the brother. They replied that there was no brother at Tokomaru, but a brother resided at Milton whoiA they would inform. The body was removed to the mortuary about 5 p.m.”

TELEPHONE CADETTE’S REPORT.

The telephone cadette (Miss B. Humphreys), who handled a telephone message referred to in the weekly paper s report of the affair, stated in a written report: “On September 11 I was asked by a hospital sister to put a message through to the Gray brothers, Okau, to notify them of the death of their uncle. Also to ask if they or we (the hospital authorities) should notify his brother, Archibald Gray, at Tokon|aru, as the hospital authorities then thought the address to be. The message was put through straight away, and on asking about the brother at Tokomaru I was told that Arcihbald Gray lived at Milton. I then said: ‘Will you notify him of the death, or do you want •us to do so?’ They replied that they would notify Mr. Archibald Gray of his brother’s death.” The chairman said the facts were fully set out, and there was no necessity to discuss the matter further. Mr. A. Corkill said it was regrettable that the chairman should have been censured in a weekly paper for something he was not responsible for. The chairman: It is one of the emoluments of office. The next business was then proceeded with.