CHILD'S DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19731, 28 December 1926, Page 6

CHILD'S DEATH

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE DOCTORS ADVISED IMMEDIATE OPERATION Al ADRI PARENTS’ RESPONSIBILITY At the Magistrate’s Court- at Rartihi on Thursday, before Messrs T. Fagg R Higley and W. H. Sandford. Justice! of the Peace, a native, Kairimu Honora, was charged that on or about November 9 at Orautoha, being the father nz Wao Nurataua a child aged six vearu, by omit ling Io obtain medical aid dur ing its illness, whereby the death of the i child was caused, he did commit inan- | slaughter. I Dr. Boyd gave evidence that the accused took the boy to him on NovemI her 9. He was very seriously ill. suf- ] fering from abdominal trouble, which required immediate attention. Witness advised the father to take the child to the public hospital, as an operation I was necessary. He did not see the ; boy again until after death. The bodv | was very wasted. An examination ; showed that the child had suffered | from appendicits. which had developed ! into peritonitis and rupture of th- 1 I bowels, which was the cause of death The primary cause was appondirii< ’ Had an operation been performed it j might have saved the child’s life. Th. I child was neglected. I Dr. Kron fold said that on November ' 9 the accused came to the hospital with | his wife and little boy in a taxi. Wit ness was asked to go out and see the I bov bv the taxi driver. He had every thing prepared for the admission of the boy, but the parents would not allow the child to leave the ear. He went ' out to the car and made a. rough exam ination, which showed the child w:i1 suffering from abdominal conditions. I Ho recommended the parents to allow the child to be admitted, tolling them the only chance was an operation. Ro tried to persuade them, but without avail. Hp told them that if they took •lie child away thev did so on their own 'responsibility’ The only chance the I child had was an operation imme-. atoly. Nurse Parker said she went out, hut the parents would not got out of tT,o car. The child was looking very ill. The accused tried to persuade his wif. to leave the child, but she refused, and they took the child away. Constable AlcCowan said that afici visiting the hospital accused took tin.

boy home. The child remained at hoc • for about nine days, when he took hi 'A to a neighbour’s house about six miL - away, whore ho died, about throe days after. Accused said he did not give the boy any medicine because ho was under Ratana’s treatment. When asked why he did not leave the boy at the hospital the accused said bk wife would not agree to it.

The accused, who pleaded not guiltv. made the following statement: —“As the bov had been sick for some time I took him Io the doctr. He had been under R itana, but as he did not seem to got bettor I thought I had better take him to see a doctor. I brought f him out to see Dr. Boyd, who said modi- 1 cine would not do him any good; Im would have to be operated on; an oper ation was the only thing. But my wife was frightened, about an opera tion. After talking it over we decided to take him to the hospital. Dr. Kmnfeld said the child should be operated on. Alv wife started to cry and would not agree. The doctor said if wo took him back the child might die: if leM at the hospital he might recover. Dn account of my wife being so distresses ■wo took the child home. The child did not seem to get any worse than it was before and remained so right up to the time of its death.” Accused was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Wanganui. Bail was allowed in twfl securities of £l9O each and the accused’s bond of £2OO.