BABY'S DEATH IN HOSPITAL
-Press Associatioii \
PARENTS THINK NEGLECT WAS CAU.SE--
By Telegraph-
CHHISTCHURCH, JulyHO. "The motlier puts doxvn the cause of her baby's death as thorough neglect at the liospital, " said Mrs. Tlelen Myrtle Eabian, a relative of the child, wheii an inquest was held this morning into the death of Michael Shaw Eennedy, aged 10 weeks, of Gordontown, Hamilton, at the Christchurch Public liospital ou .Axjril 8, after ari operation for circumcision. Mrs. Eabian said slie rcpresented the baby's parents. After hearing medieal evidenco Ihe Coroner, Mr. Haymoud Eerner, retunied a verdict that death was due to asphyxiation caused by the inhalation of vomit. ' Mrs. Eabian said they thought there was "a big laxity"; in the children 's ward at the liospital. The parents thought there 'had been neglect and she was there to say wliat they thought. , Dr. B. B. Ilall said he performed the operation at the request of the motliei who was also a patient in liospital. Later he was called to the child who was in a distressed conditioii. He gave oxvgen but the child died. To the Coroner, Dr. Ilall said the child \s preparation for the operation would include 110 feeding for at least live hours beforeliand. He ~ did 1101 think the child would have any stomach contcnts at the time of the operation. Mrs. Eabian: "Don't ybu think the child 's death could have been avoided if a nurse had been in attCndance?" Witness: 1 think a nurse was in at tendance. The Coroner: YYhv did not the nurse notice the child was in distress? Witness: yister Claridgo did notice and ealled for me. 1 exainiuecl the child but was uuable to determine the trouble. There was 110 evidence that the child had vomited. Mrs. Eabian said she visited the child and nobody was pfesent wlien il died. Witness agreetl he was not present at the time. lle added that ihe assislant superintendent, Dr. MeDougall, hau seen the child and told witness he was. unable to do more tinui he was doing. Heturning the verdict, the Coronei said: "I don't think there is an\ material ou wliich we can tuke tlu matter further. "
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Bibliographic details
Chronicle (Levin), 11 July 1946, Page 7
Word Count
362BABY'S DEATH IN HOSPITAL Chronicle (Levin), 11 July 1946, Page 7
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