ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1649, 16 January 1913, Page 8

ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY

1 ;•■ ■'■': ■■ .■■: 'l. -\ '. • \ ;,: A DOCTOR'S EVIDENCE.';.- • , : i I , ■!■;. (By Telegraph.—Prccs:'A«socdauon.) ';..•■. i '■:'''\ !>•■ Auckland,. January 167; . ■ The inquiry respecting the' complaints: . [ raado as : to,tho,:administration.',of,;;'St: ; ! '. ■'; ;■. Helen's maternity home, Auckland,' was . continued.this afternoon.bclorp'Mr.'Ket-; i tie, S'.M. ''.'..V' ;> '., 1.-'-''.'.'-.-'.!' i Thomas Chamberlain' ccntinued'ihis evi- 1 . ■•'■'. ,; denco'with...respect .to tho.death!'of"his ■ ! ,- wife in tho homo.':-' " '■~'. ,; '...;; •-. t < ■ Dr., Walter-Scott; Brockway,' in: {the ,;' .. course of his eViderico, said a 9 the result ' , of, a communication,' with' l Chamberlain; ■ regarding the treatment of, tho slattc'rV ' ivit/d. in St: Holcns Hospital. vvilncs's';ran«r'> ; up Dr. Inglis, and told: him that' Cham-' berlain was dissatisfied? at. ! thoi lack of in: J '<• formation: he'had received as! to' hereon- "< dition. Ho further'asked to be allowed-to ' ',' 'go up and soo the patient,and inquired I what rules governod.the hospital. Dr. • • Inglis replied that there'was no provision '• for'patiouts to call;in outside assistance; ' but that. a,, regular'.- medical' officer "might'. ' m ■>»;*'!'!« ''wsistanco as ho required,;'; !_ r ° T % .Commissioner-.;-Ho- understood' | Dr. Inglis's. words to mean that he was! ' ; ! ' refused - •admission',to.-tho'. - hospital.-i '■,' I Asked why he"had,not Eocurcd'oonsuU ' tation withDr.lnKlis.aß to Mrs.'Cham-i .- jMrlam.s condition Dr; Brockway replied' ■ that the .m-kiri ;'was.that-~Dr.- Inglis was'/ j it raemborof the British, Medical AssocTa- 1 ': , tion, while ho (witness), wasnot. HcknowJ i thatsonio nioml>crs of •the re.. < fused, to' oonsulfrwith non-members.'" Dr.'' » Inglis, however, .did hot .Rive "this 1 'to ; him m-b ireoson, for nbt'hblding.o, con- ' 5u1fati0n.,'.:..,,..;.',.-,' ..;.-:;. ~.■• ",. ■■■ I 'The Commissioner: jWas'lVinyoiir mind *■ A that he would not agree to: a consultation P " . Dr. Brockway: Yes. • . ;■:. ■'•:■■■ ' Did you'surest'V i consultation? .' ' ■■■.■■.'•* •. ~... <.-•. ■ Jr. • Brockway: -. No; that would* have ' been useless. I did. not wish to put my, self into .mi embarrassing .position,' or' the ' doctor either. ■» -.-.-.. ,; Tho Commissioner:.' Why did you think '■' '• It llSOlPSS? Dr. Brockway: rhad lxien,informed by ono : raembcr of the BriUsh Medical-Asso. \ ciation that some -of. the other members; would notconsult-with outsiders.! 'I _1* The Commissioners-Have you everWn refused consultation in'AueklandP v-'T . '. Dr.; Brockway: Yes, .'Onco;*; ahiU was.enough. ,'. .... , H' r^V C ?' mn " Bs i, o n« r! '' An *'yott'.-.thonght'-that that was tho general rule fV' :■' ' Dr.,Brockwny: Yes. : .' '. Mr :. * r *?- ! -,P !I J you- notsurgest- tint you should be allowed to see Mrs. Chamber. ■' am -tihofficially.-so ;th'at,you might, fcJievo. Chamberlain's, anxiety?! . .. : 'i ■ ~.Pr ;. . B ftckway: N °i r Should 1 hav«. conadored that most unprofessional. -, ■ :-Tho:Commißsion6r:,-No. Mr. .M.iv«".toV ran.t ecparato tho 'two things. > Either a doctor wos profpsslonnlly "ot' ; h« does'riot. ~A l1' ; ,- M oy s .-, n . ft ,«. you- taken-:any lw'r't, direct or indirect, in bringing;, about this inquiry P..,'■ ." •'■; ■:■ ■..P. r; ;' I'was notinstigatori if • that is what yon mean., The' first intimati,on,l had;, wfls.jWlren-Mr.'Chamberlain brought mo a death certificate. Ho w ntcd to-knbw what.'septicne'mia was ' ' • „-«.** yon ..urge Mr. Charnberhin or any one else to secure an inquiry P ••■■-■■•,■.■ • _. : Dr. Brockway: Yes, I think I did.' : , . The, Commissioner: Idbji't. say that you did wrong in".tlmti Did toy, think ' that an inquiry was necessary P • - ,Dr. Brockway: I think so now. ■--'.' The Commissioner: How'did.Tou'ceme to interest .yourself the matter afterMrs. Chamberlains-death.: ' , v Dr., Brockway:'r think, that Mrs.. Nicol came .to mo and- told me that there: wasan agitation fdr'ah inquiry, "I then' wrote nutlj report ,-which-I. think -I' have : at' homo'iTipw,"''■" ,"." -.'''■•','.'<.' • '■-> ..' At ijhis'staeo the inquiry'was-qdjoutfted. '