DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL WITH BROKEN RIBS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1947, Page 2

DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL WITH BROKEN RIBS

X-RAY DID NOT DISCLOSE FRACTURES. AUCKLAND, May 26. The fact that members of the Auckland Hospital Board were not aware ot the circumstances surrounding the deatn of a former patient until they read the newspaper reports of an inquest was disclosed at a meeting of the board tonight. Deceased was George McGuiiieRead, a retired warehouseman, aged 84, of .Stanley Bay. At the inquest last week the eoroner (Mr. A. Addison) stated that there was a most unfortunate complication in the case as the man was apparently allowred to go home from the Auckland hospital when iie had five broken ribs, but he was sure that if the doctors knew of the fraetfures they would never have sent him home. Mr. Reid was injured when he was knoclted down by a motor-car on tJtie night of March 19. He was taken to the easualty department of the Auckland -hospital and discharged next day. • He died in a private hospital on Marcn 22. The Coroner stated that an JX-ray had not disclosed the fractures and tne man was allowed to go home. He thought that when the facts were known they would serve a good purpose and the hospital yould take the necessary action. There was h!5 * £vidence to show that the discharge of the deceased was a contributory cause ot death. A verdict was returned that death was caused by aeute pneumonia* and heart failure following five fractures of ■ the ribs. * . At the board meeting tonight Mr. J. Grierson said he was very upset to read in the paper about the case. He wanxed to know if tlxe board had looked iuto

the matter. He did not lilce to see sucn things in print. ' ' The first I knew about the matter officially was last Friday morning," said the chairman (Mr. A. J. Moody) who is also chairman of the board 's* Investigations Committee. "I was very concerned that the board hail been kept in entire ignorance of the case. You ■ may rest assuced that, the matter will be fully investigated by the- Investigations Committee. Had it not been for the eandid press reports I hesitate to say what would have happened beeause • I do not think the board would have "known about it at all." Mr. Moody said sueh a case justified the need for the Irivestigations Committee which had the eonfidenee of txie public. The committee would meet as soon as it couia get into, action. ' .Mr. J. Guiniven said the man's family- were very distressed to 'have him sent home from the hospital. One point he would like' to see cleared up concerned the possibility of the failure of the X-ray plant to do its work.