“EXTRAORDINARY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 13

“EXTRAORDINARY”

CORONER SURPRISED A HOSPITAL DISCHARGE WOMAN WITH FRACTURE Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. “To discharge a woman with such a fracture seems an extraordinary thing, ’ said the coroner, Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., when conducting an inquiry to-day into the death of Mrs. Llizabeth McKnight. Mrs. McKnight was admitted to the hospital as the result of a fall from a tramcar. Later she was discharged, but subsequently was re-admitted, and died. Dr. Ella Langley,, house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said that when an X-ray examination was made on June 16, it showed no fracture. Mrs. McKnight's condition continued to improve. She got up on June 18, and witness said she might leave the hospital on the following day. This she : did. To the coroner: When witness saw the X-ray photographs she was unable to detect any fracture. On June 17 the senior honorary surgeon, Dr. Sandston, saw the patient. The coroner: Did he authorise her discharge? Witness: No. The coroner (after reading portion of the pathologist’s report) : There was a fracture three inches long. Is it not wonderful that that was not detected at the time. To discharge a woman with such a fracture seems to be an extraordinary thing. Witness: She had no signs or symptoms of fracture. The inquest was adjourned to enable the coroner to get the evidence of the senior surgeon.