BOYS DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1930, Page 3

BOYS DEATH

CHO KED “BY UO'GI). 'Bv Telegraph—Preafl AfWoeixtionV ~ ; GISBORNE, September 25. ' Ail,iiicjivest was held to-day irtiq. the eirenmstances surroumling/. the. deatlj; of the ” sixteen year... cjtl boy, ; Joseph. Arthur Parker, which occurred at a private hospital . on. , S.epterpbei - 47, - when the, patient,. lvas - under .an anaestlietie. Medical, eyidenep. was given to tlie effect" that the lad was adiiijfc;tecJ„ to>-.the- hospital - suffering-from - " cut tendons on the right hand, caused by his putting his hand through a .glass -door;- when - chasing- his-sister' at diome. ■v'The -■ 1 a§i had, -liis f . last : Me s t] v ' *neai<ly4ji6ve liavtrs j he fore I thet-enera--tion. The operation was nearly finished when the patient commenced to vomit. vomited four times. Then the opetSitiffg surgeon noticed that.. the • anaesthetist was having trouble. The anaesthetist said lie . thought that some blood had got into the larynx An operation for trachaeolony was -started; and the patient appeared as though breathing. Artificial respiration was tried, but had no effect, and traecheolony was. performed, but the boy did not,breathe. While keeping up artificial respiration, one doctor found a large piece of undigested mfeat in theitractest; ’ The doctors were still unable to .get air into the lungs.. Then . a second piece of meat was found" in the larynx, and then a third piece. After that, for the first time, there, was a,n. entry of air into thc,I'ungs. A" incision was made in the upper' abdomen, mid the - heart was ’ Inassage.d, Lilt nil of • tlie effio rfe - we re unsuccessful. Then the Doctors rea-. Used 'that the lad was.dead.

- The Acti'ng-Coroiicr, Mr A. G. Beere,.,’. Jj P., kind a. .jury of-four, returned a verdict that death was due to asphyxia while under an anaesthetic, and that all reasonable care and all tlie usual precautions appeared to have been taken in connection with the operation.