SHOCKING NEGLECT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 222, 12 September 1908, Page 6

SHOCKING NEGLECT

I MAN IN A STATE OF DECAY. ! A MATTER CALLING FOR INQUIRY. Auckland, Wednesday. An, extraordinary case lias come before the Hospital Board here, and one which, but 'for the medical testimony, could scarcely be conceived possible to have occurred. The Costley Home committee reported the case of a man admitted to the Home at his wife's request from a nursing home in the suburbs. Dr. King had ■ reported to the committee the seriousness of the case. It was recommended that a copy of that report.be sent to the nursing home referred to. Dr. King, in a letter, stated: "On Saturday last I saw at this institution a man, and on examination of his body found him in a terrible state of decay, with bed sores varying from one inch to three inches in diameter. I consider him ,n a state which will very soon terminate in death, but ait any rate I consider that ho, lias not been looked after as he should have been before he was admitted here." Mr. Knight (chairman) said this was a case the Board could not allow to pass without comment. lit was evident that this man had been somewhere where he had been neglected, and at the last extremity he was sent to the Costley Home'. The Home was no place for | a poor creature who had been allowed to get into sucli a state, but he hoped they would at the Home be able 'o make the unfortunate man's last few days more happy than they could have been before he was admitted. Mr. J. G. Rutherford explained that Dr. King thought it was only right this matter should be brought before the Board, because if the man died his condition might be considered a reflection upon Dr. King and the management at the Costley Home. Mr. Mackcy: These private homes are all registered, and I consider thait a ease like this should be reported to the Minister for Health. If the circumstances are as stated the Minister would be justified in cancelling the license of this particular nursing home. , The report of the committee was adopted.