SUDDEN DEATH IN BOWEN STREET HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 212, 2 June 1921, Page 6

SUDDEN DEATH IN BOWEN STREET HOSPITAL

COLLAPSE AFTER AN OPERATION.

An. inquest was held yesterday by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., into t’he circumstances causing the death of Claude F. Etevcneaux (37 years of age) -while under the influence of an anaesthetic at the Bowen Street Hospital, in the forenoon of Monday. Dr. C. M. Hector, who made a postmortem examination, said that the body was well nourished .and Iwro the marks of a recent oporation. Tn his opinion tho cause of death was heart failure, but the cause of the heart failure was not very obvious.

Dr. E. L. Marchant said that the deceased had been his patient, and at witness’s suggestion he entered the hospital in Bowen Street. He had suffered from chronic inflammation of the nasal cavity, and went into the hospital to be operated upon. He went there on Sunday night and the operation was performed by witness tho next day. AVitness was assisted by Dr. Litchfield, who administered the anaesthetic. The operation was performed without any diftir.,,nr whatever a’" 1 took 'iftle more than half an hour. Tho patient was taken back to his room and put to bed. and by that time he was recovering from the anaesthetic. AVhen witness left him at 9.50 a.m. his condition was perfectly satisfactory. Dr. Litchfield said that he administered tho anaesthetic to Eteveneonx. and prior to this witness examined him and camo io the conclusion that tho anaesthetic coulit ho administered. There was nothing abnormal discoverable. Throughout the operation everything went on perfectly, a nd'at Ihe cpnclnsion witness accompanied tho patient to his loom, and bo was then in a satisfactory condition. Dr. Herbert said that the Bowen Street Hospital was under his supervision. TTc was urgently summoned to the patient about 11. th a.in. on Monday, the summons coining from the Sister, who had been sitting and watching tho patient. Witness found that the man had suddenly collapsed., His pulse was irregular and ho was verv pule, and it was obvious that death was near. Everything possible was done for the patient, but without result. The Coroner found that death was due tn heart failure following U]wn an operation.