DANGERS OF RADIUM AND X-RAY TREATMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1947, Page 7

DANGERS OF RADIUM AND X-RAY TREATMENT

DUNEDIN, Feb: 6. "Some staggering claims by patients have beeu made against hospital boards at'ter the use of radium, and it is about time vve let jjatients know that it is a drastic cure for a drastie disease, " deelared Mr. H. F. Toogood (Wellington) at the hospital boards conference. ' ' We label a bot'tle of poison prominently, and we should also label radiuni for wliat it really is, ' ' he said. Mr. Toogood presented the following remit froni Wellington, which was adopted by the conference: "That all hospital boards supp lying X-ray or radium treatment be urged to bring to the notice of patients the fact that there are riskss associated with such treatment, and further that printed initructions ' be handed to eaeh ' patient who should be required to sign a-de-•Jaration. " "It is not'intended that the signing >f such a declaration should protect the lioard from action in'the event of negligence on the part .of the stafE, nor attempt to deprive the patient of this right of action, sliould actual negligence occur, " he said. "It is desired, however, that the board should take all oossible steps to protect itself from ictions at law in respeet to the nnto- . ward effects which may ocCur as inci- . lental to treatment properl'y prescribed ind correctly ' admiiiistered. ' '