DOCTOR & PATIENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1546, 16 September 1912, Page 4

DOCTOR & PATIENT.

SON'S EVIDENCE AT INQUEST,

On Saturday morning Dr. M'ArtlvuP, S.M., held iin- inquest concerning the death of llnry .lane liurke, a widow, ti3 years oi' age, who died at Yogcltown last tVi'dncsday.

lu his evidence, Dr. Fyffo stated that ncuto peritonitis, duo lo intestine obstruction, had been the cause of death. A very simple operation would have saved the woman's life.

John liurk<>, a. son of tho deceased, cavo evidence. Kcgnrding tho day on which his mother died the witness said: At about 10 o'clock I went to Dr. Uowerkank, and saw him at his house, and asked him to come up to Vojreltown on an urgent case. He eaul that he would como during his round. Dr. Bewerhnuk did not como at nil. I was expecting him every minute. Mother passed away at 1 o'clock. Dr. M'Arthur: When you found that Dr. Bowcrlwnk did not come within a reasonable time (say an hour), did \ou go for any other doctor?

Witness; No; I thought that when he had made a promise he would come. You didn't get a doctor before your mother pass-jd away P—"No." Did you get a doctor at all P—"l went down for Dr. Cameron and ho camo at once.

Witness: I want to ask why, if he thought that he had not time to como the doctor did not ring up. If he had come she might have been alive to-day. Police-Sergeant Darby: I don't suppose you said to the doctor: "If you can't come in a reasonable time, telephone"? ' Dr. M'ArHiur: Your remedy is lo report Dr. Boworbank to the Medical Association. Probably if Dr. Boworbank was here hn would say that you told him the same as von told tho chemist—something about indigestion. The verdict was that death had been caused by acute peritonitis.

THE DOCTOR'S STATEMENT. When the statements of Mr. John Burke were communicated to Dr. Bowerbank last i evening he said that they were not correct in so far as they referred to himself. Ho paid that Mr. Burke had not told him tliat the case was urgent, but had asked him to caU when ho was round during the day. He had toM Mr. Burko at the time that ho had two serious casee, for either of which he might be required at any moment. Owing to theso cases, Dr. Bowerbank said, ho could not have undertaken to attend Mrs. Burke if her case lind ten reported to be urgent; he would have had to advise Mr. Burke to see another doctor. Beforo Dr. Bowerbunk had time to reach Mvs. Binke's case he was informed of her death' and of the fact that Mr. Burke had gone to Dr. Cameron.