CHARGE AGAINST NURSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16903, 30 November 1922, Page 7

CHARGE AGAINST NURSE.

UNUSUAL MANSLAUGHTER CASE.

(Pur Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 29. An unusual charge came before th© Magistrate’s Court when Edith Alary Armstrong. aged 30. employed as a nurse at the Porima Mental Hospital. was charged that on November 10, by omission without lawful excuse ol a legal duty, she caused the death of a female inmate of the hospital, thereby comm itt ing rnanslaughter. Dr P. J. Monaghan, of the hospital, said that, deceased was suffering from a few burns, all of a superficial nature, causing the least- irritation, except one, when he first saw the patient, end they were all healing on November 20, except one. Deceased was very small. She. weighed only fire stone, and her heart weighed only four and a half ounces. She was mentally incapable of making any complaint. Her condition was very feeble. Death was due to burns, taken in conjunction with tho state of deceased and her heart. To Mr Perry: There was nothing whatever to show that the burns had affected deceased. Up till the time she or 1 lapsed she was. making a very satisfactory recovery. From 1917 deceased's weight fluctuated from 4st 31b to fist, 1 m was rarely over sst. This was abnormally low. The normal weight of ft woman’s heart was from eight to ten ounces. Mr Perry: May I suggest that deceased may have died as she did even if sho bad never been bathed, on November 16?—Any small illness or injury in her case might have led to her sudden death. Pearl 1 oung, day nurse at the hospital. described the finding of tlie burns on deceased. Deceased showed no sign of pain, and appeared as usual. Louissa Popple ton. night nurse, said that, deceased showed no sign of pain on the night of November 10. Witness examined deceased several times during the night. She was surprised to learn later that deceased was supposed to have been scalded on November TO. The matron, recalled, said that she could find no one who had bathed deceased from November 14 to 16. Mr. Perry, for accused, said that there was no evidence whatever showing that the burns had been sustained while deceased was in accused’s charge Mr Perry recalled Dr Monaghan, who said he was at raid that the death must be connected with the burns. Mr Page held that- there was a case to answer. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. Bail was allowed in'one surety of LIOO.