FAMOUS SURGEON’S FATAL OPERATION
WOMAN COLLAPSES ON TABLE DEATH BEATS THE BEST [Pbb United Press Association.) HAMILTON, February 24. An inquest was held to-day by Mi Wyvern Wilson, S.M., into the death of Rhoda Rawlings, a married woman, aged forty-two, of To Kuiti, whose death occurred in Waikato Hospital yesterday during an operation. Tho operator was Mr Victor Bouncy, of Loudon, and the operation was performed in the presence of about fifty doctors attending tho B.M.A. Conference at Hamilton. Dr Gower, Waikato Hospital surgeonsuperintendent, gave evidence that lie assisted at the operation, for which tho time was extraordinarily short. The patient collapsed after an hour. Dr M'Miken, who administered tho amesthetic (specially deputed for the purpose), said the patient was very adipose in condition. Victor Bouncy, surgeon, who operated, said ho was a London specialist and gynsccological surgeon to the largo English hospitals. He was visiting New Zealand as representative of the B.M.A. at tho New Zealand Conference. The first indication of anything wrong was tho patient’s sudden collapse. This was reported by the antesthetist, but witness did not think sho was then dead. The operation was discontinued, the heart massaged through the abdomen, and all steps known to medical science were taken, without success. Tho operation was nearly finished when the collapse occurred. He attributed death to sudden cardiac failure duo to the degenerate condition of the heart. Tho operation was a very difficult one, and every safeguard known to modern surgery was taken. He had the assistance of Dr Gower and a beautifully trained theatre staff. He had never had tho amesthotie given for him better. Extra pains were taken to make tiie operation perfect, as the whole object was to make it an example of what one should bo. The post mortem examination, it was stated, disclosed that death was duo to cardiac failure and the shock of operation on a, patient with a fatty heart.
The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with tho medical testimony, .saying *hat it was one of those regrettable eases which medical and surgical science was unable to prevent. Everything possible seemed to have been dene, and it was gratifying that an expert of such high standing should speak so well of the local hospital appointments.
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Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 6
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375FAMOUS SURGEON’S FATAL OPERATION Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 6
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