AN INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1928, Page 5

AN INQUEST

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., Oct. 3. An inquest was held this morning on the death of Bernard Francis Spehnan, 29, who was severely injured in an accident on the Ashurst-Raume road, when his motor cycle skidded and threw him in front ofan ” approaching car, deceased dying later in the- hospital. Doctor Forrest stated the deceased’s injuries to his right femur was. very severe.- He was also suffering from shock. During the operatiop- in the hospital when the hones were set and witness was about to . insert stitches an the face laceration; deceased’s breathing ceased. Artificial respiration and the usual remedies were unavailingly applied. Death was due mainly to shock, hut no doubt the anaesthetic contributed' in some small degree. It was probably that deceased would have died without the anaesthetic.

Dr Jordan who gave the anaesthetic, said after twenty minutes he became anxious concerning the deceased s condition, but thought it would be safe to proceed. Deceased stopped breathing after the hones were set. The Coroner’s verdict said the circumstances purely indicated it w r as an accident, which caused death, shock following severe injuries accelerated by the administration of an anaesthetic. The doctor administering the anaesthetic under, he thought, an error of judgement. In continuing in view of the fact that the patient s condition gave him cause for anxiety, but according to evidence there was severe shock which might have caused death and to this end the anaesthetic contributed jn a minor degree. -