CASE OF LILLIAN GARDINER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 286, 29 August 1919, Page 8

CASE OF LILLIAN GARDINER

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE'S DEFENCE. Reference was made at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board to the case of u-.lliun Gfii-cUatr, of J'etone, an inmate of tho hospital, whose case has been traversed in the Press. The matter .came before the board in the form of a letter from Dr. 'Faulke, traversing the medical history of the cane, and another from the Fetone Borough Council, which, through its delegate, demanded an inquiry. The allegation appeared to be that the chi.d, who was suffering from inanition, was romoved from the Children's Hospital by order of Dr. Woodhouse (medical superintendent), when the child was not in a, fit condition to be'bo'moved, and when subsequently seen by Dr. Faulke the girl was said to bs a hospital case. It was desired that she should bo readmitted to the Children's Hospital, arid there attended by Dr. Faulke. <Tho chairman (Mr. F. Castle) said that the child, now in the hospital, was at one time supposed to be suffering from encephalitis, and i,t was said she had been wrongly discharged. There was no real evidence that such was the case. A further charge was made that the child had been taken out onthe order of Dts. Bnckley and Woodhouse. As a matter of fact, the child had not been discharged, but had been taken away by the parents against the wishes of tho matron, who hadoblained a statement from them stating that (the girl was being taken away at their (tho parents') own wish. The paper was signed "E. E. Gardiner," whom he supposed was the father. Dr. Woodho'use: No, thp mother. It seemed to him, Mr. Castle continued, that an attempt hud been made to ranlco' out that the hospital had discharged tho child wrongfully, and against tho wishes of the parents. He could not see that there was any foundation for such charges, nor any reason for an inquiry. On August 20 Dr. Faulko sent the father to him, and ho gathered from -him that Dr. Taulko thought the girl a likely case for the Macarthy Home. Dr. Woodhouse had examined hor, and found that she waa not a, suitable case for the home,, and she was, being treated in the Children's Hospital. No charge had been made by Dr. Faulke. It was desired that the child should be placed under Dr. Faulke's treatment whilst she was in the Children's Hospital, but that could hardly bo done under the system. N Tho child would be under the 'honorary physician of the Children's Ward. Rev. Mr. Van Staveren Suggested that the matter be referred to the medical superintendent, the chairman of the board, and the chairman of tho Hospital Committee h> '.leal with. M'r. C. M. Luke thought it would be better to rcf.er it to the Hosninl Committee for n report, and moved in that diri'diou. Mr. J. \Y. M'Ktoi, who said he had not been in sympathy' with the council ho represented in the matter, said it was clear that the statements ef some perrons had to be taken with' a gi'siin of s.'.'lt.