SUICIDE IN HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1934, Page 9

SUICIDE IN HOSPITAL

EVIDENCE AT AUCKLAND SUCCESSFUL IN THIRD ATTEMPT. DELAY IN TRANSFER SUGGESTED. MOVE TO MENTAL INSTITUTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The case of a man who committed suicide in the Auckland Hospital, evidently by knocking his head against a wall and forcing his spine into the base of his skull, was the subject of an inquest held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. The man had previously made two unsuccessful attempts to commit suicide, one attempt being in hospital. He was William Bankier, a ship’s fireman, a single man aged 58. He was a native of Scotland, but he had lived in New Zealand for 30 years. He had no relatives in the Dominion. He had been worried about unemployment, and on October 30 he was found lying in front of an open gas jet. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital, where . his death occurred shortly before midnight on October 31.

Evidence was given by Dr. T. H. Pettit, who was called to attend Bankier, that his demeanour at the time was such that the doctor felt he was extremely dangerous and might, even make an attack upon him. Bankier was a powerful man. Dr. Pettit had known him previously and he had been quiet and well-spoken. Dr. Pettit had informed Dr. Gould, of the hospital, that it would be necessary to put Bankier in a cell.

Answering Mr. Cocker, who appeared for the hospital board, Dr. Pettit said he considered medical observation, as well as mental observation, was needed in the case. He had explained to Dr. Gould that he regarded Bankier as a dangerous man, who might eventually have to go to a mental hospital. SUPERINTENDENT’S EVIDENCE. The medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, Dr. Craven, said Bankier was admitted to the institution as a case of gas poisoning before 6 a.m. on October 30. The coroner: When were you notified? Dr. Craven: When I saw the admission notices at half past eight. Did you see him?—Not then. What was the next thing you heard?— I learned at 9.20 a.m. that he had sustained a cut wrist. I. saw him then. Was he in a room by himself?—Yes, he was lying quietly in be<j. He had straps on his wrists and ankles then. They had been properly fixed in the afternoon. Dr. Craven said a form had been sent to a mental hospital in connection with the intended transfer of Bankier to that institution. Dr. Tothill came from the mental hospital in the following afternoon and his report recommended the transfer of Bankier to the mental hospital as soon as possible. On the following morning Dr. Craven heard Bankier was dead. The coroner: Is it not routine in such a case to notify the police of admission? Dr. Craven replied that Bankier was not brought to the institution by the police. The coroner: This man was strapped down. Fifteen hours is a long time to be strapped down? Dr. Craven: He had quite a range of movement. COMMENT ON TYPE OF STRAPS. When the coroner commented that he was told that that type of straps was not allowed in a mental hospital Dr. Craven said that there , were facilities and attendants at that institution. The coroner: Have you a padded cell? -No. He must have been improperly strapped down, don’t you think?—Tire only explanation that I can find is that the strap was defective. Answering Sergeant Bissett, Dr. Craven said that had the patient been violent he would have sent for a constable. Dr. Gould, assistant medical superintendent, said he had been informed by Dr. Pettit that the case was one of Attempted suicide, but he did not recollect that it was said that the man was dangerous. It had been saic. Bankier was noisy and violent. The coroner: Did you see this man upon admission?—No, sir. He was left to be seen by one of the residents?—Yes.

What was your next connection with this case?—l really had no further connection with it.

Did you hear of his cutting his wrist?— I happened to go into the ward just after it was done. They were putting on a restraining sheet then. I gathered from what they told me that he had broken a cup or glass and had deliberately cut his wrist. He was then being attended by the resident. Don’t you think you should have put somebody by to watch him? —Well, he was apparently quite quiet then, sir. SEEN BY NOBODY. “No one saw this man when he came in except the resident,” commented the coroner, Ann Winifred Metcalfe, a nurse, said she was on duty in the ward on October 30. She visited Bankier about 8 a.m. He was then quiet and she gave him a cup of tea. When she returned to his cell 15 minutes later with some bread and honey she found him with pools of blood around him. There was a cut on his left wrist and he was unconscious. He had inflicted an injury with a piece of glass and there was a broken tumbler in the room. The coroner: Who took him the tumbler?—l do not know.

Phyllis Mildred Pottinger, sister in charge of the ward, said there was no constable in attendance while Bankier was in hospital. After his wrist was bandaged restraining straps were applied and she gave instructions that he was to have no visitors and that no article should be left in the cell with which he might do himself harm. The coroner: The word “cell” does not denote what a nice, comfortable room this really was. It is not a cell. How did the glass get in the room? The sister ’said she thought it must have been left there when a nurse brought some medicine.

The coroner: If this unfortunate man had been sent to a mental hospital that morning he would be alive now?

The sister: He was quiet. “Of course he was quiet with the straps on,” commented the coroner. Nurse Leila Mossman said she applied restraining straps when Dr. Ritchie was present.

The coroner: Apparently they were not put on properly, because he got out of them.

The nurse: They were firmly attached. The inquiry was adjourned, the coroner stating that he wanted the resident doctor who saw Bankier to be called.