Maternity Morality.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1921, Page 4

Maternity Morality.

A DOCTOR’S LETTER

WELDINGTON, July 18

Suggestions were recently made by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Health in discussing maternity nvor•ality. that there is too nuuh hurried midwifery. This drew a strong retort, non Dr Herbert, a prominent Wellington medico, who accused the Minister of rushing into the dismission upon incomplete knowledge. Di Heibert analysed the reported eausp <*l

deaths of women during child-bearing to show that a large percentage vas utterly dissociated from puerperal ■omplications. “Though it may be quite true that under the heading of puerperal eases. Yew Zealand’s returns show some Icntlis which should appropriately .•omo under another heading. there -till remains the awkward fact for IV Herbert.” declares the ATinister

‘Teallll. “that other countries admit iho same system of returns as New Zealand does and Hint hv comparison based on tlie same method of eahmb lion we stand condemned of a dont I’- 1 ’- ■■ate in excess of every other .oil'd 1 v i,„f one. Tlie nuhlie yvill not he greatly concerned as to whether a score or two of deaths come under an in•onronriate heading. AVliat T and Ihe ,-üblic are concerned about is the • ,-nad fact- that in New Zealand fo-de-

)'nr too many of o"r voting women die in childbirth from causes which , an and ought to he easily prevented.” Supporting his contention that then i too much surgical interference, the Minister quotes a letter from a. corresi indent Tig describes as a well known medical man yvho says: “Albeit T u !ls cud women who came to the place circulated a report that T was a cab |. us brute yvho alloyved them to suffer whereas the doctors did not

5.,. Before T went to long periods bad elapsed with no medical aid. and tbr place was full of big families ami henltbv mothers. T left a healthy let nt women and children behind ah" Women won’t wait and their h 'sbnnds are worse, and He doctor • - Hod in to give chloroform. . . v medico who insists no nronor I""" i., ■i n g allowed onieklv loses his confinement work. The work goes to P”’ oian who lions in onieklv. who does the anaesthetic act right a wav. T am »•

vf snonsiblo for this state of affairs N"ISCS whom T hare t’-aioed In w vv of thinking arc cl a seed as • mithe.tie The v are eloenlv talked akoot as women who will not -all ■■ di dor earlr eonmVh.”

The Minister ronon+e H-t O 's LtP

me Idnming the Tleeartm mt do-tors nr nurses ; all most work tocoth-e m •l spirit of friendlv ea.'W'it'nn T ' ' rmses nod half aonlomcs are worse 0 HS‘^o9'9.