HOSPITAL INVESTIGATION

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 7

HOSPITAL INVESTIGATION

AUCKLAND FINDING GIVEN DEATH OF BOY UNDER TREATMENT-BY-LAW BREACH ACKNOWLEDGED. inquiry UPON ADMINISTRATION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The finding of the committee of inquiry which made an investigation into the complaints by Mr. G. A- Downie, Remuera, that his son Kenneth, aged 8. years, whft died in the Aiwkland hospital, was not seen by the honorary consulting specialist and did not receive the proper treatment was announced at a special meeting- of the Auckland Hospital Board. The Committee’s conclusions were as follow:— „ ... “(1) The- resident medical officer aia not inform his honorary that there was a patient in his ward in a serious condition. On the admission of this patient the resident proceeded to treat him without informing his honorary. The treatment given by him was subsequently confirmed by the honorary. While acknowledging a breach of the by-law your committee is satisfied from the medical evidence that the preliminary and subsequent treatment was skilfully and successfully carried out. “(2) Your committee finds that any Suggestion of neglect on the part of the pursing staff was not substantiated. “(3) The evidence fails to disclose any delay in the admission of the patient “(4) Mr. Downie said the boy was seen by Dr. M. G. Pezaro on the afternoon of October 15. and was ordered to be sent to hospital straight awayfor an immediate blood transfusion. This is shown by Dr. Pezaro’s evidence to have beCn a misconception on the part of Mr, and Mrs. Downie.” ■ . ■ . The Rev. W. C. Wood, chairman of the committee, said the very full reports of the inquiry that had been given in the daily Press had- relieved his task very considerably. In general terms the case could be described as an instance or charges being made which were to- a large extent exaggerated. COMPLAINT JUSTIFIED. “We admit a breach of the by-law,” he said, ‘'and to that extent Mr. Downie was justified in his complaint. The resident was unable to explain why he had omitted to inform his honorary. Evidently the reason was due to the keen interest which the young man had m the case. On the evidence he seems to. have handled the case with special skill, and it seemed to the members of the committee that he had become so engrossed in the case that the by-law had escaped him for the time being. The child suffered no ill-effects in consequence of the resident’s omission to inform the honorary. The treatment received by the child had been all that was possible. There was no evidence that there had been any neglect on the part of the nursing staff. Mr G T. Parvin said he hoped some thing would be evolved as a result of the inquiry that would be of benefit to the board and to the public. Mrs. Dreaver said- that though she took no notice of some of the wild assertions that had been made, the board could not disregard the fact that there was something wrong. . The chairman of the board, Mr. W. Wallace, said he had admired the frank way in which the resident had given his evidence, and he was convinced he had done ’ everything humanly possible for the child. Mr. Wallace said he hoped as a result of the inquiry and of ano that was pending that the whole of! the medical side of the hospital would be thoroughly investigated. In view o this and the other case, said the chair man, “I have written to Dr. Craven to give me a report on the medical administration of the hospital. Dr. Gunson suggested that the question of the reprimanding of the resident or not could be dealt with by the board feter if it so desired. There was no need for a public reprimand, which would affect the residents professional to adopt the suggestion of the chairman in connection with the administration, which will be discussed at a special meeting.