MEDICAL ETIQUETTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1653, 21 January 1913, Page 5

MEDICAL ETIQUETTE.

; 6 ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY, INTERESTING EVIDENCE.

ABOUT CONSULTATIONS.

(By Telegraph.—Preea Association.

it th« tt , Au , ck '? r n(l > January 20. At the St. Helens Homo inquiry this morning ]Jr, Inglis stated that ho had boen appointed medical superintendent at *, a s ear > increased later to XIOO. The frn rn?, was .'¥ ti f ied in putting' in stitches 101 minor injuries iu maternity cases. ... s ,pistom was followed in similar insh utions in. Wellington, ChristchSrch. «ar^T dnl, J 1 ?- Mllrsll dicd iiom scarlet fever and heart failuro. Tliere was no septicaemia. Everything possible was done to save her life. _On resuming, in tho afternoon. Mr. Mays put in tho nurse's report book kept ™tl,?^° me, .A lld in which all details of putients condition, were entered. ,In reply to Mr. Kettle, Dr. Inglis said trLi ) f VI T. r M POr . t )md fea destrowed. Details in tlie nurses 1 report book were entered in tho case book, kept for tho purpose, and when the case book ? as mado_ up tho report books were destroyed. Witness stated that it was tho custom in most hospitals to destroy report books. On being pressed for an example other than St. Helens Home, he instanced the Auckland Public Hospital, report books were des-

: The Commissioner said if that were the, case, the practice should bo stopped at once. .

Referring to .the question of ; holding consultations, Dr. Inglis said he had otten had occasion to call in othet doctors to consult with him' about cases. Ho would always grant consultation if relatives wonted it, and if he considered tho case warranted it. ' ! . .■ Tho Commissioner: Supposing the liusband of a woman in this hospital came to you, and asked for a consultation with a medical man; would you grant it? " Witness: 'Yes, at once; but I would not have a consultation with a man whose opinion I. do not valne. : I'l lo , Commissioner: You would exercise the right, to refuse consultation if, you thought-fit? ■ . ' Witness: Yes. '' The Commissioner: Would you refuse to hold consultation with a medical man who was not a member of the British Medical Association ? : - Witness: No, not on that v account. . The Commissioner: Have you ever, heard of a refusal because the proposed Mnsultant was not a member of the British Medical Association?, : Witness•. No, not on that account. Iho Commissionerj ; What, \in your opinion, would be valid objection in refusing consultation? .. i ; •Witness: Valid objection would bo that I did not valuo his opinion as consulting man. • ;... ■- ■ ■- The Commissioner: Supposing. the man valued his opinion? "Witness: I would allow him to see the patient, but I would not have consultation- with' him.-

■ The Commissioner: Would you refuse to allow a practitioner in private prac™®.J 0 attend a case in hospital? . H itness: I could not,, as I havo no power to do so. " ' ■ ■ Tho As long ae a patient remain? in tho hospital you claim that yiu, arid you alone, havo the powor to attend tho patient? Witnessi Yes, I do. •' . Witness reaffirmed that Mrs. Marsh's sudden opliapse had been entirely unexpected. , ■ ' I ■ 1

T Charlotta ;,Ludwig, matron.rv.of'-' St., Helen s Home, 'in her. ovidenco regarding Mrs. Marsh s death, said that she'had understood deceased 'to say that she had been suffenng from • a ,weak heart for some prior, to her admission to the .home. Witness detailed Mrs. Marsh's condition from the timo of her'admission till her death, and said' everything pos- ■ Bible had been dono to save tlio patient's Hie. ; Iho doctor had visited her every day, and nurses had been with her all • the time she was in tho isolation' ward. Referring -to dostruction of report books, witness said that they had boon destroyed from time to time. When she went to tho homo some three years ago there fore no report books, and sinco that time all the bopks,' with tho exception of the ono produced, Jiad been destroyed. , > !. ' Dr- Florence Keller, called by Mrs. A io°l, condemned tho action of those responsible for placing Mrs. Porch in tho isolation ward so soon after it had been vacated by Mrs. Chamberlain. Witness said sho had a very high opinion of mid'WlVCS:trained at' St. Helenas Homo.' , .lo .Mrs. Nicol: Sho considered it unfair' to tho other jpatients in tho homo if .Mrs. Porch was suffering from septicaemia'and was allowed to remain in a room with otlior patients. • ' ; . 1 . Dr. Frederick M. Goldstein gavo evidence to the effect'that he attended Mrs. Martha Porch at St. Helen's Homo. Ho detailed-her condition, and stated that 110 considered, under'tho circumstances, it was tho best and safest thing t6 put her xn tho isolation ward.; .. ■ , _ Dr. .Inglig,-called' with regard to Mrs. Porch s case, corroborated Dr. Goldstein's evidence,, and added that it was not in any way detrimental to Mrs. Porch's wclfare placing her in', the isolation ward, Witness was emphatio in condemning the present building at the home, and seated that it- was not at all suitable for a maternity hospital. ■