A CARRIER’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 128, 28 February 1928, Page 13

A CARRIER’S DEATH

LEAVES HOSPITAL AGAINST DOCTOR’S ADVICE SEQUEL TO COLLISION WITH TRAMCAR Further evidence was given before, the Coroner (Air. W. G. Riddell, S.M.), in the Alagintrato’s Court yesterday, touching the death of Thomas George Needham, a carrier, married, of Tinakori Road, who was injured in an accident in Tinakori Road on February 2. between a horse and cart and a tramcar. Former evidence went to show that after the accident deceased was taken to the hospital, and there X-rayed. According to deceased’s statement to Dr. A. Robertson, who attended him for pneumonia, after discharge from hospital, no bones were found to be broken. After death a post-mortem examination was held by Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist at the hospital, at the request of Needham’s relatives, v. hen it was found that deceased had eight-fractured ribs. Needham, who remained in the institution for 24 hours, died nt his own home eight days after his discharge from hospital.

Senior-Sergeant Scott conducted the inquest on behalf of the police, while Mr. P. H. Putnam appeared for the relatives of the deceased. Mr. J. o’Sliea, city solicitor, represented the Citv Cornorntion. ami Afr. IL F. O’Leary' watched proceedings on behalf of the inotorman who was driving the tram in question. Dr. Mit ford, a house surgeon at the Public Hospital, gave evidence that Ids examination of Hie deceased on admission, disclosed nothing, although Needham complained of having a slight pain in the chest. An X-ray examination was made with similar results, and the day after his admission Io the hospital the deceased was discharged at his own request. When he left Needham was able to walk perfectly well. To Air. Putnam: “Deceased left the hospital with my approval, because he demanded to go. If he had not demanded to go, I would certainly have kept him longer, because I considered he should be kept longer for examination. _ As it, was, he left the institution entirely against mv own wish.” In replj- to the Coroner, witness said that he told Needham that he thought be should remain longer. To Air. Putnam: "1 told deceased I could not keep him in the hospital against his own wish, but I managed to persuade him to remain for an X-ray examination. He said he would go as soon as the result of the X-ray examination was known.”

In returning a verdict of death due to pneumonia following injuries to the chest and liver, caused through a collision with a tramcar, driven by Frederick Richard Stevenson, the Coroner said that so far as the evidence of the collision was concerned, it was of a conflicting nature. However, the weight of evidence certainly went Io show that the driver of the tram took all the precautions he could to avoid the accident. He was not prepared, on the evidence, to say that there was negligence on the part of the driver. That, perhaps, might be a matter for another Court to decide. Neither did be think that, there had been any negligence in allowing the deceased to leave the hospital. AVhen admitted he was examined and did not seem to show any signs of serious injury. Dr. Alitford had stated that although it was usual to take a written statement from a person wishing to leave a hospital against the advico of fho authorities no such statement had been taken from deceased because there were witnesses who had heard Needham say ho wanted to leave. It was quite possible that deceased did not think he was so severely injured as he really was. It did not look as if it. were necessary to make any comment on the conduct of tho Hospital authorities. Everything usual that was done in similar cases was done for Needham. The case exhibited rather uncommon features, and if the X-ray examination had not been negative and if the deceased had followed the advico of Dr. Alitford he would probably have remained in Hospital. “Whether that would have made any difference to tho patient.” added the Coroner, “is of course impossible to decide.”