Lost and Found

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 133, 22 June 1937, Page 7

Lost and Found

missing x-ray films Commission Probes Hospital Mystery HOLE IN THE DOOR Sets of X-ray films of the injuxies of three patients disappeared from the X-ray departmejit at the Napier Public Hospital during the middle of last year, and were subsequently returned in secret. That was the tenor of the evidence given this morning in Napier when the Royal Commission embarked upon the fourth section of the order of reference of its inquiry into the administration of Ihe Napier Public Hospital. Two sets of keys only were available for 'the room, but the evidence discSLosed that a portion of the door was missiug, enahling it to he opened from the outside. Since the lock was changed, no films have . heen missed. Dr. H. F. Bernau, Napier, the first witness, said that he saw Mr Rells. in eonsultation wi,th Drs. %"hite and FitzGerald, and deeided to examine the original films. The doctors were told that the films had heen lost and could not be found anywhere. Their absence had the effect of making wdtness and Dr. White unable to give an opinion on the injury. The injury had heen considered to be one oi Sudec's atrophy, and witness felt that the bones in the film showed atrophy of di&use rather than Sudec's atrophy. Litigation whieh f ollowed the injury to Mr Eells had heen based upon the contentiion that the injury was one of Sudec's atrophy, and this fact limited the number of people who would be interested in their disapjearance. Mr Lawry: If the films disappeared, would there not be four or five other explanations other than the oue suggested? Witness: Yes. And you are uot imputing anything sinister? — "No.'? To Mr Grant, witness stated that the case had been immediately diagnosed as Sudec's atrophy, and had been entered as sueh on the treatment sheets, As the radiologist's report had negatived this, it was vital that the doctors interested should have the films for the purpose of the case. Mr Grant: Who diagnosed the case? Witness: Dr. Allan Berry. Do you know who complained about the loss of them to the departmentf— "No." The board held an inquiry into the matter? — "Yes." And you gave evidence? — "I asked to he allowed to give evidence on aecount of remarks brought to my notice about the iniquities of insurance doctors. " Have you ever taken films from the hospital? — "On one occasion only, when I returned it the same afternoon. " Patient's Evidence. Eegalado Eells detailed the accident that he sufiered to his hand while working in the Eoadstead and described his admission to hospital for treatment. Five X-rays were taken of his "hand. Some time later, when he saw Dr. FitzGerald, he learned that the X-ray films were missing. On further inquiry witness learned that the films had mysterdously disappeared. Witness explained that he had a Court action peuding, and followiug some correfapondeuce he had with the Hospital Board he received word from the board 's solieitor to go to Dr. Harvey for a further X-ray. Whea Witness asked Dr. Harvey what it was wanted for, Dr. Harvey said that he wanted to send them to England. Witness said he could not understand this. Witness understood that the room where the films were kept was under lock and key. If another doctor had access to the key, Dr. Harvey or the sister could not be reasonably blamed for the disappearanee of the films. To Mr Lawry, witness said that Dr. Allan Berry appeared very surprised when he lieard that the films were missing. Mr Bate: You objected to the filma going to England? Witness: Yes, when we have so many clever doctors in New Zealand. When I went to Wellington in July last to see the doctors for the insurance company, they said to me: "You have one of the eleverest doctors in New Zealand." The chairman: Who ns he? Witness: Dr. Allan Berry. X am not a friend of Dr. Berry 's. I did not know him before I ca,me to Napier. Mr Bate: The films being missing dfid zot affect your getting your money as the result of the Court aetion? Witness: No. Disappeared and Eeappeared. Sister Genet explained that Mr. Rell's X-ray films were missing some time in April, 1936, and that she found them again on the floor behind the door on December 3 last. Witness could not account for their disappearance. She had notieed a hole in the door, caused hy a detachable portion of the door, such as would iudicate that someone had put a hand through and opened the door. Mr. Rell's and another set of films had heen missing, and a few days later another envelope was found under the door containing another set of films. Dr. J. Allan -Berry had been in charge of all three cases. All the films liad been asked for By various doctors. Following the disappearance of the films, witness had received a letter from the board warning her to be more careful. Two keys to the department were field by witness and Dr. Foley, so that it would be possible, if someone gained possession of the other key, toi him to enter the department without her knowledge. At one period last year Dr. Foley 'a key was mislaid. When witness suspected that someone had the key, she had the !V>fV changed. ■ Mr. Foden: Who do you think would want access to the films? Witnoss: I don't know definitely. It 1

would have to he someone interested in the cases. Who would that be? — "Dr. Berry; and Dr. Fitzgerald." And the patients? — -"Yes." The chairman: What about the law-* yers? Mr. Foden: I had not thought oi them. Mr. Foden: Of these three categories would you eare to indicate the one that was most likely to be interested? Witness: I could not say.' Hole in the Door. Can you say that the hole in the door was there before you changed the lock? — "Yes." Mr. Harker: Were there any cases of films missing after you changed the loclc? Witness: No. Mr. Grant: The room is in a base*i uient, is it not? Witness: Yes. And there are three ways by which it can be approached: by a tunnel from the Nurses' Home under the road, by a door from a yard nearby, and down tha stairway?— "Yes.' Who inquired after the films?— "Dr. FitzGerald, Dr. Bernau and Dr. Berry."