ALARMING FIGURES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16833, 8 September 1922, Page 5

ALARMING FIGURES.

i DEATHS UNDER AHffiSTHE- | TICS. (py.K Phks9 Association.) » IN AIM ATE September 7. j Alarming figure* of increased deaths under anaesthetics were quoted by Dr A. G. Pitts (Waimate) at a meeting of 1 the South Canterbury branch of the British Medical Association. Dr Pitts obtained the figures from an official source after considerable trouble, and as they were thought to be confidential they were not divulged for publication. For a number of years'prior to 1921. the average death rate was low but it more than doubled that year and continued to increase during 1922. Only «i very negligible proportion were due to ether and every patient dying under ether was critically ill at the time, also very old. As no statistics were kept regarding the administration of anaesthetics the meeting decided to recommend the Health Department and British Medical Association that record be kept at every public and private hospital iu the Dominion and the Waimate doctors »resent undertook to begin here immediately. It also was recommended that medical assessors should eit with Coroners on deaths from anaesthetics, that anesthetics used be analysed, that inquiry be made into the instruction given at universities and whether it was recommended to use chloroform or ether. J