SURGEONS AND THE RISK OF DEATH

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1947, Page 5

SURGEONS AND THE RISK OF DEATH

nn -Press Assoc'iatio'n

By 'Telegraph

. Al UivLAjN rt, j uiie y. "Tt is very iuiport'axxt that it 'be te•CQgni'sed by •evexyone koW often fhg.^ur « geon and anaesthetist are the probleux of 'decidi'n.g whe^&^Pyera-j , tive dintertrerenee ofiers tlxe slfglitest' c'liauce of -a eure against a grhve T'isk of immediatre 'death on •the ta]i 1 C;, 1 ' J stated th'e Director of Anaesthesia, Dr. 'G. F. V. AnsoTx./un 'a repor-t which was before the Auckland Hospital Boarcl ax i'ts meeting tonight. He was eohimen ti'ng on th'e death of an ,elderly man in the oper-aLing theatre at the -Auckland hospital. •Nothi'ng shou'ld be done "in the w-ay of undue publieity that might frighteTi silrgeons ■a'nd' anaesthetists from giviixg every chanee to -a most grtevously ill patient, stated Dr. Anson. He said he was coiiviweed the anaesth'estic was properly chose-li and admiliistered in vonformi'ty with th-e very highest standatds. The .p'a'tien't w^s *an exceedingly 'poor risk and that Was fully reeognised )>y both surgeoix -and 'anaesthetist. All that was possible was dowe in oxder to give th'e patient any fa'int ' chance of survival and he Telt those coneerned nhould 'be •cougi'atxilated in tackling What, to s'a'y the Ifeas't, was a desperate risk. . Evidenee reee'ived by the hoatd's investigatiod eommittee stated ."that. the; 'opetation 'was 'exceeditigl'y difiit.uTt -and' tedious, cdnimeYieiTig at midnigh't apd ending at 2 a.m.