GIRLS' PAINFUL DEATH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 146, 8 July 1937, Page 9

GIRLS' PAINFUL DEATH

Malignant Growth Not Treated CORONER'S CENSURE AUCKLAND, Last Night. "After he'aring the evidence I consider that the mother of deceased deserves the severest censure for not obtaining medical aid for this unfortunate girl who lay practically rotting away for three or four months without any proper attention. It is the most distressing case I have ever heard." This was the Tider added to his finding by Mr. F. K, Hunt, coroner, at an inquest touching the death of Anita K. Walker, aged 21 years, at her home, Hollywood avenue, Epsom, on June 9. Dr. C. J. A. Grifiin deposed that he was called in to see the girl. She was then dead and had been so, he judged, for about an hour. The girl 's body was very emaciated and there was a large .growth on the right thigh just above the knee. The skin just above the knee had broken exposing the muscles, which ,wore in a gangrenous state. It was, in |his opinion, a malignant growth, problably sarcoma. There was also an ulcer on the back of the right leg below the i knee. He could see no sign of any dressing on the wound, although it was possible that any dressing there might have been removed. In his opinion advanced sarcoma was the cause of death. There Iwould probably have been considerable ;pain suffered by the patient, and that could have been alleviated by proper medical attention. To the Coroner Dr. G-riffin said that, from a conversation he had in'the house 'in the time, he was gxven the impression . that the girl had consulted two doctors in September when the amputation of the leg had been advised and that since the girl had had no medical attention. Amputation would have eased her suffering and might perhaps have prolonged her life. In his' opinion cleansing lotions should have applied and the wound dressed twice a day, with sedatives and narcotic drugs being given the patient at the same time to relieve the pain. He had never seen a wound in a worse state. Dr. Frank Macky and Dr. Donald D. McKenzie detailed consultations with the girl in September of last year when an X-ray of the growth was made and amputation of the leg was advised, with the'advice that it would probably effect a cure as no secondary growth from the sarcoma was discloscd by the X-ray film. Dr. Macky stated that his discussion on the amputation was with the girl'a mother, who declined to sanction the operation, partly because it would deprive the girl of tho pleasure of dancing of which she was very fond, and partly for financial reasons. He could not understand a person not having medical attention for a wound such as described by Dr. Griffin. Dr. McKenzie said he had discussed the amputation with both the girl and her mother. The girl was very mucli against it. Her chief objection to tho amputation was primarily a belief that faith would cure her and to a lesser dcgree' that she would rather die than give up dancing. Asked if she had known of anyone cured by fajth, she recounted one possible cure. He pleaded with her but without avail. Witness asked a young woman to visit the girl and reason with her. The reason was that witness had attended the sccond girl's father and had amputated his leg with a defmite and material benefit to the patient. That girl failed to persuade Miss Walker to agree to the, amputation. Witness agreed with Dr. * Macky that the girl should have had medical and surgical treatment througliout even though she had refused the amputation. Edith Marion Walker, mother of the dead girl, stated that she was a married woman separated from her husband. Witness stated that both Dr. Macky and Dr. McKenzie had advised that her daughter should have an operation for her complaint. The daughter's objection to the amputation was that she did not want to lose her leg. The daughter belonged to the Churo.h of England and did not belong» to any "sect." The girl thougkt that, as the doctors could not do anything, she might have soiuetliing dono by faith healing. Witness never heard anyono ■suggest that hor daughter could be .cured by faith healing. The Coroner: Why didn't you sond for someone to attcnd to hcr? Because she didn't want anyone. She was afraid the authorities would tako her to hospital and have her leg amputated. "But you had her in this awful condition for months." "I left it entirely to her. She had a mind of hcr own." . Witness stated that another daughter dressed the wound night and morning, using cotton wool. She used disinfectants in the room but not on the wound as it was too painful. Anita was in bed for six months. The daughter who attended to the sick girl had had nursing experience. To the Coroner, witness said the girl was soothed far more in her home than she would have been in the hospital. It would have been easier for witness had tho girl gonc to hospital and had tho amputation, and though she urged the girl to do so, sho would not agree to that or have a doctor. Nonl Xcsbit Walker stated she was 22 years of agc aud had had a year's gcueral mirsing expcrienco as a probationor. Shc dropscd hcr sister's Jeg rcgularly with gauze and cotton wool and a weak solutlon oi' clisini'ectant. She could not force hcr sislcr to have medical trcatnicnl. Tho (hiroucr J'ouud in accordanco with .Ihe medical cvidencc that ihe cnuso of death was sarcoma. Hc added Ihe corsorial comment stated above and con cluded bv stating that, as there v,a« r: •1 Jialrility of pvosecution, lie would not l comment further, ' ,