TWO DEATHS UNDER ANAESTHETIC

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 229, 24 June 1944, Page 5

TWO DEATHS UNDER ANAESTHETIC

Wellington Hospital Rule Broken STRICTURES BY CORONER “I want to .issue a warning' that if cases of this nature come before the Court again, the Court will have to ensure that there are no more lapses, said the coroner, Mr. W. G. Mellish, when turning his verdict at an inquest in Wellington, yesterday into the_,deatns of May Florence Guy. used 54, and Bertha Evelyn Blaikie, aged 55. Both women, the evidence revealed, died at the Wellington Public Hospital while under anaesthetic, and on both occasions changes of anaesthetists had taken place, contrary to the rules of the hospital. Mrs. Guy was being operated on for an ulcerated leg, and Mrs. Blaikie for cancer. , , .. , Dr J Calrney, superintendent-in-cnief of Wellington Public. Hospital, said that there was a definite rule that there must be no change of anaesthetists during .an operation. House surgeous had been impressed with the rule. Asked by the coroner if there was a good reason for the rule, he replied that some years ago in a case of death under anaesthesia it was found there had been two changes of anaesthetists. Mr. Mellish: Do you feel there is some danger in changing? Witness: I do not believe that changing anaesthetists necessarily endangers the life of the patient, but I do believe that it is in the best interests of the patient that there should be one anaesthetist throughout the operation. One anaesthetist would be in a better position to note any change in the patient than one who takes over half-way through. . , -• Dr. P, P. Lynch, consulting pathologist, said there was nothing to suggest the change of anaesthetists was the cause of death. But be agreed with Dr. Cairney on the necessity for such a rule. It was a counsel of perfection, which might sometimes be difficult to keep. Dr. Lynch said that Mrs. Guy died before the operation. Heart failure under the anaesthetic was the cause of death. Giving his verdict Mr. Mellish said that the cause of the death of Mrs. Blaikie was haemorrhage during a radical operation. It had transpired in evidence that a change had been made of anaesthetists. The first question to arise was, wjis the hospital or the superintending staff to blame? But every possible means had been taken to impress the staff with the rule. “It leaves a grave feeling of uncertainty in the public mind when rules such' as this are disregarded,” he said.

IXegarding Mrs. Guy, Mr. Mellish said he was not satisfied with the position; she was in the induction stage when the change was made. It was a very dangerous stage in the administration *bf an anaesthetic, He returned a verdict of heart failure under the anaesthetic.