The Auckland Hospital.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 286, 7 December 1904, Page 3

The Auckland Hospital.

REPORT BY THE INQUIRY COMMISSION. ; STRONG DENUNCIATIONS. (Per Praia Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. * The finding of the Royal Commission (Judge Ward, Mr Bectham, exS.M., and Mr McCarthy, S.M.) appointed to inquire into the management states that the appointment of Dr. Collins as senior medical officer had created friction and had caused the resignation of many of the ablest men On the honorary staff, and since his appointment there appeared to have been a steady deterioration in the surgical and medical work of the hospital, to the manifest detriment of patients. Instances were not infrequent where fractures had been set and attended to by the junior resident with disastrous results. The commissioners give several instances of such cases, and then report on "a most serious charge" against the senior medical officer, Dr. Collins, made respecting the treatment and Subsequent death of a patient named Wallis A. White. In this case the commissioners report that on the o.7th of May last White was brought to the hospital dangerously ill. He Jwas examined by I)rs. Collins and Weil, and on being questioned he indicated his right side as tho scat of the pain ; tout Dr. Collins, in spite of a remonstrance from Dr. Neil, determined to perform an operation for appendicitis, in which the inciBion is made on tho left side. That incision was made accordingly, and the appendix was found to bo normal. After giving details of further operations made on tiic patient the report goes on to state that the patient, who was two hours on the operating table, died two days afterwards. "We are unanimoasly of opinion," report the commissioners, "that the reliable evidence before us Bhows :—(1) That the incision for appendicitis ought not to have been made. This, however, is stated to kave been a mistake which even a skilful surgeon might make. (2) That the two incisions in the intestines near the appendix were both of them most dangerous and unnecessary. (3) That the satures put by Dr. Collins in a stomach which was Iprovcd to.be an ulcerated one can only be characterised as wanton and uncalled-for .surgery, without any justiflcatiojj whatever, and that the time taken up by that portion of the operation apparently lessened the patient's chance of life. (4) That though the patient on his admission to the hospital was in a very serious condition, owing to the perforated ulcer in the duodenum, he had a chpmee of life, which was seriously HfcHtoiflhedby the malpractice of Dr. JPoUlna, (&) That In order to don-

ceal his malpractice he falsely stated to Dr. McUregor at the 'departmental inquiry that he found the ai\ terior wall of the stomach very friable ami having three perforations in it, and that he had great difficulty in uniting them."

In regard to a charge of unnecessary and unjustifiable operation an another patient the commissioners report that the operation was justifiable.

The present condition of the hospital buildings (except the children's hospital and nurses' home) is reported on as being far from satisfactory.

The commission finds that there oin be no doubt that the rules which provide that major operations shall •>e performed b> and be under the control of "the honorary surgeons" <.ave been persistently misconstrued . ill ignored by the senior nieUicul .illicer, who has taken charge of cases which should have been dealt with l.y the honorary staff. His conduct in this respect lias had the tacit consent of the board. The practice at present prevailing of not admitting patients (except in urgent and serious cases) without a doctor's ordor, is severely condemned as entailing needless suffering to patients presenting themselves for admission. The commissioners fail to see why one of the resident stair should not determine whether the proposed patient should or should not be admitted.

| Regarding Dr. Neil's dismissal from the honorary staff the finding is that its justification depends on whether Dr. Collins' method of operation in the Wallis White case was in accordance with sound surgery. The commission thinks it was not, and the dismissal is stated to be without any justification, assuming that the board had power to dismiss.

The commission also finds that most of the hospital records and other documents produced in evidence were incorrectly and carelessly Kept. Instances of carelessness are given, and the responsibility is cast on the senior medical officer.