DANGERS OF X-RAY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1929, Page 7

DANGERS OF X-RAY

CHILD ELKCTROCUTICD. NURSE STANDS IN DANGER ZONE. LONDON, Dec. 22. A verdict ol' “accidental death” was returned by a coroner’s jury at Hull yesterday at the inquest on Doris Lavornek. the eight-year-old daughter of a widow, who was killed while undergoing an X-ray examination at the Royal Infirmary on Friday night. The jury attached blame to no one. The coroner, however, stated that the question of inexperienced nurses going into an X-ray room was one which might properly lie considered by the hospital authorities in future.

Airs .Maude Lavoravk stated that her child fell on the ice and fractured her right arm, and she took her to the X-ray room for an examination. A doctor and nurse were in attendance and at the request of the nurse .Mrs Laveraok took up a position at the table on which the child was placed. She held her daughter’s hand. An examination was made, and a second one was about to proceed, said .Mrs Lavcrack. when the mirs" at the doctor’s request went to another part of the room. Immediately there was a Hash, which seemed, she said to come from her daughter’s head. “It was just like a flash of lightning,” .Mrs Lavcrack added, “and I was lifted off my feet as high as the top of the table. I fell flat on my feet. Momentarily I felt as if I could not move. I was shaken and frightened and I saw the door of the room open, and ran out.”

.Mrs Laverock isaid that, looking back, she saw her daughter lying on t he- floor near the door and the nurse close beside her. Her daughter and the nurse wore carried into the casualty room for attention. Dr. Cecil Robert Afoorc, who was in charge of the X-ray apparatus stated that he gave the usual warning to those in the room not to touch the wir es. It was during the third exnmiii ation that the accident happened.lTe was about to turn on the electric light when he heard a shout from Mrs Lave rack and saw a flash. lie immediately caught hold of the child, receiving a shock himself, and he carried her to the door, placing her on the floor while ho went hack to the assistance of the nurse. Irene Elizabeth Forward, the nurse said she had no knowledge of the work and she was not aware that wire and switches carried danger with them. She thought she was simply going i" to view the case as nurses often did. Dr Rn linen, radiologist, said it was clear to him that what had happened was that the nurse crossed the room to the dangerous side of the table while the high tension circuit was in operation, and placed herself unwittingly in what was an ideal position, even if she did not touch the wires lnit only went near to them, to form a complete electric circuit which even if of low voltage, would be sufficient to electrocute the child. Dr Bn linen said that there was no .'iicient method for insulating the leads.