"NOT FOOL PROOF."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 14

"NOT FOOL PROOF."

CHILD'S DEATH AT WELLINGTON

HOSPITAL.

(rsiss *tsocuno« t»i.m;iimi.>

WELLINGTON, December 30

A special meeting of the Wellington Hospital Committee, after a thorough investigation had been made into th« circumstances concerning the death of the child, Jean Greaves, who died after an operation for appendui'itit. passed tho following resolution:—.

"That in the opinion or the'committee, the cause of the death of Je«i, Greaves was purely accidental. From statements presented to the committee the saline, when administered, was at the standard temperature. probably the instrument was allowed too great a flow of saline, which caused a tniru and consequent complications. "We desire to place on record our recognition of the steps taken by: the Medical Superintendent to have the case properly investigated, and his action in having the inquest held. W» also instruct the Medical Superintendent to carry out his proposal to consult the honorary surgical staff, with; the object of preventing similar happenings in the future."

The Medical Superintendent (Dr. D. M. "Wilson) submitted a lengthy report to the Board, in which he said he was more inclined to blame the hospital'i methods of .administering the saline. _ The accident showed that the conditions and the apparatus, though work, ed for years, were not "fool proof," and required modifying, • '■■■'■■ It is the first caseof its kind.itported front the hospital. -