DEATH OF WOMAN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 6

DEATH OF WOMAN

Collapse Under Anaesthetic That death was due to acute- heart failure was the verdict returned this morning by the coroner, Mr J. Miller, S.M., at the inquest into the death of Blanche May Edwards, a married woman, of Napier, wlio died in a private haspital last month. Sergeant R. Carinody conducted the proceedings. Dr Thomas Gilray described tlie operation. It was his opinion that death was due to acute heart failure during the operation. Restorative methods had been unavailing. There had been no difficulty with the •anaesthetic until a f ew moments beforb the close of the operation, said Dr W. D. FitzGerald. The patient showed signs of collapse, and respiration ceased in spite of all possible restorative measures. Witness attributed death to acute heart failure occurring under an anaesthetic during the performance of a necessary' operation. Edith Patterson, matron of the private hospital, said that the operation was performed- on April 25, witness being present when the anaesthetic was administered. Deceased collapsed and died during the operation. "In this c.ase there is no suggestion tbat any but the proper steps were taken, but the law requires an inquest in all cases where death occurs under an anaesthetic," commented the coroner. "Death was"1 due. to acute anaestliesia and during the perforinance of a necessary operation, the anaesthetic ha,ving been properly administered and all proper steps having been taken."