The Hospital Enquiry.

Gisborne Times, 8 December 1906, Page 3

The Hospital Enquiry.

(To the Editor .Gisborne Times.)

Sir, —The gravity of the position with regard to tho Gisborne Hospital is not minimised but rather accentuated by tho fact that the doctors concerned have agreed to privately sottlo their differences, for it may certainly be presumed that tho letter withdrawn yesterday, by Dr. Collins demanding a further enquiry contained facts on which those demands were based, It is of no interest to the public whether the doctors have differences amongst themselves or not, but it should be interested in seeing that tho humblest lives are adequately protected, and that the poorest patient receives tho utmost con-

sidcration and attention. No doubt there may be Trustees who affect to treat with contempt and indifference the expressions of a desire for an enquiry, but it is to bo hoped that the leaven of new Trustees just appointed will bo sufficient to cause the others to realise that the public’s demands are just and must bo recognised, Surely there are enough grounds for such a course in Mr East’s letter and the evi-

dence of the nurse and the surgeon at tho recent enquiry. If there is nothing to hide, then thero can be no. possible object tion to a full and searching scrutiny, but if there arc facts or incidents which the doctors, nurses or Trustees desire not to disclose, then, the stronger is the necessity for a full, tree, and searching enquiry, which will not respeet persons, however influential their position. Possibly thero are trustees of the Hospital who by long association and natural oonservaiiam aro dazzled by the halo of respeotability whieh surrounds this "show” institution, and therefore resent as impertinence any desire on tho past of the public for an investigation into the workings of an institution wbioh belongs to it. No doubt this outory is a rude disturbanee of Ihs serene and tranquil paths which they have hitherto followed, but for tho sake of the hospital, and even of its officers, an enquiry in needed and a pronouncement required at once by publio opinion ; .otherwise, seme other pressure which oanuot be denied may be invoked with more unpleasant consequences. If tbe.'eisno danger from publicity what possible grounds for objection on the part of the trustees can there be to satisfying tho publio’a desire for full information ? There has been too muoh seoreoy and too muoh of a disposition to giye only so much information as those in authority deemed convenient in the past, and this will continue as long as the hospital is kept a close preserve for any one surgeon, therefore it is not advisable to allow the matter to drop or the trustees to relapse into somnolenoe.—l am, oto , W. LISSANT CLAYTON. Gisborne, Dee. 7,1906. [Enough has already been said in these columns to indioate what the proper oourse of aoiion by tho Hospital Trustees is in the face of facts which wo have olearly defined, and we cannot seo that any useful purpose can be served by repeating those

facts until the trustees have mot and considered the mutter, IE thon they fail to do what is deemed to be in the best interests of tho hospital and tho public ws I shall not hesitate to tell them so ; but it

is hardly fair to assume that they will fail to do their duty until they hayp had tfco chance to deal with the matter at their

first meeting. No settlement of diffaro»oc3 shat can uffeot the decision of the trustees

has taken place between members of tho tnediosl profession, for that settle-

ment merely amounts to a withdrawal by Dr Morrison of his accusation that Dr Collins was instrumental in caus ing au unnecessary operation to be performed and Dr Collins’ acceptance of tho withdrawal and admission by Dr Morrison that his statement was incorrect. Upon that being submitted to the Trustees in writing, Dr Collins agreed to withdraw his request to them for such an enquiry as would enable him to exonerate himself from the charge; but only on the condition that the whole correspondence should be published. Tho whole detai's 1 have been explained to us by the gentleI man v, ho brought about the settlement, and we can assure our correspondent that it involves nothing detrimental to tho I public interest or tho status of tho profession. It is a private matter, and the trusties arc not dependent upon Dr Collins letter for sufficient grounds upon which to base a proper course of action. The public may also rest assured that wo willnot neglect their interests when the proper I time and occasion calls for us to speak; I but until the Trustees meet and convince I I us to the contrary, wo are willing to give II them credit for tho honost intention to do \yhat is is right,—Ed, G.T.J