HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1436, 10 May 1912, Page 6

HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

PATIENT'S DEATH FROM TETANUS. ALLEGATIONS NOT SUSTAINED. (By Tclegraph-Prcss Association.) Auckland, May 9. The circumstances surrounding the death of a patient iu the Auckland Hospital, declared to have died from tetanus, were this morning inquired into by a special committee *ct up by the Hospital Hoard. Mr. Farrelly, secretary of she Tramways Sick and Accident Fund Society, appeared in support of the demand for an inquiry, iir. Farrelly took the opportunity of Mating that nis society was quite prepared to accept the statement made by l)r. luglis last week before the board as satisfactory so far as it went. Jiad tlio society been supplied with that information "previously -,t would have probably followed a diiferent eour-e of action. There were stiii several points, linn-over, which required to be cleared up, and these, he thought, should now engage the attention of toe conitnitte ) e of inquiry. Mr. Farrelly added that he desired it io be. undcr.-tood that his society's doctors had never been at any time approached in this matter, a< it was considered undesirable that friction should be stirred up by introducing them into the affair.

'Mr. Mackay said he would first like to be enlightened on one statement contained in the societv's letter to the board. It was stated that the society had good authority for asserting that there was a teta'nus patient in the same ward as the patient who was the subject of this inquiry, and it was believed that in this way* infection had been brought about. He' would first like sonic information in support of that charge. Air. Wilson -said that a statement had been made to him by Mr. J. S. Dickson, a member of the board.

Mr. Potter: AVas there not a tetanus patient in the institution at the same time as the patient whose death forms the subject of tliis inquiry? Dr. Maguirn: Yes, but not in the same ward, nor iu the same building. Mr. Farrelly then proceeded to state that two statements which did not coincide were those of Air. Wilson and Dr. Gore Giilon as to the possibility of catgut being a source of infection. Mr. Wilson related how Dr. Gore Giilon had informed him that the catgut used in sewing up the wound was a source of infectiuu, and that after the patient's death every bit of catgut in the institution had been burned.

Dr. Gore Giilon: Did I not use the words, ".May have been a cause of infection ':" Mr. Wilson: No. I understood you to say clearly that it was, and that all that remained had been destroyed. - Dr. Gore Giilon: You mii-understood me. I used the word "may," and 1 thought such n thing possible until an examination proved that the catgut was sterile. Dr. Mnguire said the stump of the appendix 1 showed the existence of tetanus. .Mr. -Mackay: That means infection came from within and not from without 'i Dr. Mnguire: That is so. I consider that in this ense (be tetanus germ must have been an inhabitant of the bowels prior to the operation. After further-evidence had been taken, Mr. I'lirrrlly said that, as he had before .stated, they were now-in • possession of facts which they Were not previously ablo to übtiiih. 1 They'.'had been 1 confronted-wH'i only two theories which' were not felt to be satisfactory.!- Now they :werp perfectly '.satisfied,' and 'he, .Moreover,' desired." to apologise'to "'the medical staff.-' for'-Making a statement whicli his-- society had itot been able to -sustain, namely, that emanating from a 'member of the board to the effect that this case was traceable to another tetanus patient in the same ward. The statement Had been made by him to the board in all good faith, believing that it was capable of substantiation. There had been serious doubts iu their minds prior to asking for an inquiry, and he thought a good purpose had been served in sifting the matter as they had done that morning. Mr. Ilyan said he would also like to express satisfaction on behalf of tlie relatives and friends of the deceased. They now felt that they had no fault to find so far as the attention received by the patient before his death was concerned. He was now convinced that there was no cause for complaint, and he desired to express his appreciation of the attention of the doctors and nurses, and particularly of Dr.*. Gore Giilon and English. Air. Wilson also expressed his satisfaction at the manner in which the matter had been cleared up. The committee then passed the following resolution upon the motion of Messrs. Mackay and Ellis-don: "After having inquired fully into the matter of the death of t!;e patient, the board exonerates the honorary staff, the stipendiary staff, and the nursing staff from any negligence or want of attention."