MISS PORTER’S DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18785, 19 May 1923, Page 5

MISS PORTER’S DEATH

DELAY AT HOSPITAL RESULT OF BOARD'S FINDINC [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 17. The Hospital Board sat to consider the evidence given in the recent public inquiry regarding the death of Miss Phyllis Porter, who died from burns received at the Grand Opera House. The board found that the assistant house surgeon (Dr. Baird) erred in sending the patient to the children’s hospital, and in not making an earlier examination of the patient. Some discussion took place as to whether the board’s findings should be arrived at in open meeting. It was ultimately decided, by nine votes to six, to go into committee. Tho findings were aj follow: 1. —That the assistant house surgeon erred in sending the patient to the children’s hospital without, making more definite inquiries concerning the condition and age of the patient, although it is clear he had been misled in being informed that the patient was a child. 2. — That he erred in allowing so much time to elapse before he made a proper examination of the patient, and should have advised ward No. 2 to be prepared. 3. —That the position of Dr. Baird on the hospital staff be dealt with at a meeting of the board next Thursday. 4. —That the evidence of Dr. Wilson, medical superintendent, showed that the extent of the burns was so serious that recovery was hopeless from the outset. The chairman, in summarising the evidence, said it justified the following conclusions being come to:—1. —That the patient arrived at the front door between 8.25 and 8.30 p.m. 2. —Dr Baird attempted to feel her pulso about 8.30. 3. —The first dose of morphia was injected between 8.40 and 8.45 p.m., or 15 to 20 minutes after arrival. 4. —The patient was placed in bed at about 8.50 to 8.55 p.m.; ten minutes or less after the injection of morphia, and 25 to 30 minutes after arrival at the front door. 5. —Dr. Baird examined the patient in bed not more than five minutes before 9 o’clock. It was clear that the initial error made in sending an adult patient to the children’s hospital led up to a series of circumstances which necessarily absorbed a considerable time before the patient was placed in bed. The time taken up in transferring the patient fiom one part to another, in telephoning messages, and awaiting directions, in the preparation of the morphia injection. and in the preparation of the bed was not unreasonable. There was no suggestion r.hat the nurses and port-| ers concerned showed any want of attention; on the contrary, they acted with commendable alertness, and judgment. General agreement with the views in the chairman’s summary was expressed by the board, which adopted the findings. l?ho Medical Superintendent! (Dr. Wilson) stated that he would prepare a report from the board dealing generally with the system of admitting patients to the hospital.