LOST NEEDLE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1932, Page 3

LOST NEEDLE

IN PATIENT’S BODY. LONDON, May 4. The efforts made to recover a radium needle which was lost in a patieiit’s body during treatment for cancer three years ago were described at “a St. Paneras inquest on*Mrs Mary Elizabeth Baker, 47, of Weston Road, Timmies Ditton. Dr. N'oi'liury said that Mrs Baker oamo to the Royal Free Hospital for cancer treatment in April, 1929, and 20 radium needles ■ fasetened with linen thread were put into her body. Six days later 25 were removed, hut the thread of the remaining needle in the chest cavity had rotted away, and the needle wa® left in. An attempt to remove it was made during an operation in which some

ribs were removed, Put the noodle could not be found. Another attempt was made on the, following day, but the hunt was to no purpose.. i The cause of death was heart failure due to the, prolonged action of the radium noodle 6n the heart muscle®. In recording a verdict of “Death by misadventure,” the Coroner said that had Mr® Baker not been treated with radium «ho would not have lived as long. The method of fastening the needles then adopted was in the early days of radium treatment. The danger of a needle being left behind was now practically speaking. removed. Mrs Baker’s death was not in any •wav the rebuilt ol caroles,sues), ur neglect.