DEATH DURING OPERATION

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1928, Page 1

DEATH DURING OPERATION

FAMOUS LONDON SURGEON GIVES EVIDENCE. HAMILTON, Feb. 21. An inquest was held to-day by Mr Wyvern AA’ilson, S.M., into the death of Rboda Rawlings, a married woman, aged forty-two, of Te Kuiti, whose death occurred at the AVaikato Hospital yesterday during an operation. The operator was Mr Victor Bonny, of London, and tbe operation was performed in tbe presence of about fifty doctors attending the conference of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association at Hamilton. Dr (tower, tbe AVaikato Hospital surgeon-superintendent, gave evidence that bo assisted at the operation, for which tbe time was extraordinarily short. Tbe patient collapsed after an hour. Dr M’Miken, who administered the anaesthetic, was specially deputed for the purpose. The patient was very adipose in condition. A'ietor Bouncy, the surgeon who operated, said that he was a London specialist and a gynecological surgeon to large English hospitals: lie was listing New Zealand as representative of the British Medical Association at the New Zealand conference. Tho first indication of anything wrong was the patient’s sudden collapse. This was reported by the anaesthetist, but witness did not think that she was then dead. The operation was discontinued and tbe heart massaged through the abdomen, and all steps known to medical science were taken, without success. Tbe operation was nearly finished when the collapse occurred. Ho attributed the death to sudden cardiac failure due to a degenerate condition of the heart. The operation was very difficult, and every safeguard known to modern surgery was taken. He had tbe assistance of Dr Gower and a beautifully-trained theatre staff. He bad never bad the anaesthetic given for him better. Extra pains were taken to make the. operation perfect, as the whole object was to make it an example of what it should be. , A post-mortem examination, it was stated, disclosed that death was due to cardiac failure and the shock ol an operation on a patient with a fatty heart. Tlio Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, saying that the circumstances constituted one of those regrettable eases which medical and surgical science was unable to prevent. Everything possible seemed to have been done, and it was gratifying that an expert of such a high standing should speak so well of the local hospital appointments.