SHOULD A DOCTOR TELL?

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40041, 19 December 1929, Page 1

SHOULD A DOCTOR TELL?

CORONER DIFFERENTIATES r

BETWEEN

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PRAiCTITIONER,

Dunedin, December 16,

Tlie inquest was concluded to-, day on the death of Jennie EdV walrds, who died three days after her admission to Dunedin hospital from septicaemia. Evidence showed the girl, who was a pianist at Everybody’s theatre, was admitted to hospital on November 16, and died on November 19, the police not being informc d till after her death. Dr. Searle, house surgeon, stated that the girl admitted that an illegal operation had been performed. The girl’s admission was made in confidence, so witness, did not Teel called on to notify the police immediately. In answer to the Coroner, Mr. J. It. Bartholomew, witness said he did not think the fact that he was an officer in a public institution made any difference as regards informing the police. The Coroner, in returning a verdict, of death from infection following an illegal operation by persons unknown, stated .a serious question arose and it seemed to him that the case of public institutions and that of a. private practitioner were not analagous. In a case of this s : ort, public medical officers were not justified in dealing with a patient as would a private practitioner. Had the police had a chance to interview 7, the patient, valuable evidence might have -been given, -whereas the matter had come to a dead end, because the case was quite stale when the police were informed. He thought the authorities should give sei’ious consideration to •the position, for he thought the opinion he expressed was perfectly sound from the public and also from the public hospital aspect.