HOSPITAL DOCTORS’ PRIVILEGE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1929, Page 8

HOSPITAL DOCTORS’ PRIVILEGE

REPLY TO CORONER’S REMARKS. DUNEDJN, December 20. Several members oi the Hospital Hoard took objection, at a meeting last night, to the recent remarks of the Coroner (Mr Bartholomew) at ail inquest on a young woman who died in the Public Hospital from the effects of an illegal operation. The fact that she told the hospital doctors that such an operation was performed was not notified till after her death. 'Hie Coroner had expressed the view that a medical officer in a public hospital was in a different situation from a private practitioner, and he said that the police should he notified. Dr. N ewlamls, at tile hoard meeting stated that it was practically universal that suspected illegal abortion cases should be sent to the hospital. If a difference were made between the relationship of a doctor as an officer in a public institution and that of a doctor in an outside institution, a serious error would be , committed, even though it was legal. The first essential between doctor and patient was that con fidenee must not be violated. It seemed to him invidious that the jirivilege allowed legally to lawyers, and by j custom to clergymen, with withheld from doctors. The Magistrate, in laying down that a medical man should he a common informer, went outside his jurisdiction altogether. The chairman (Mr Knight) held also that there should he no distinction between a doctor in private practice and the board’s medical staff.