DOCTOR AND BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 174, 2 November 1910, Page 8

DOCTOR AND BOARD.

TROUBLE AT STRATFORD nUSPII^. SULTRY PASSAGES. 4 . DR. PAGET RESIGNS. The Stratford Hospital Board was occupied yesterday for about four hours on an i-juuiry us the result of a lettei si-ul to the chairman (Mr. G. A. Marcuant) by two me...ocrs of the Board (Messrs. D. Maxell and W. L. Kennedy), stating that on October 8 Mr. A. R.. Reed, of Toko, being seriously ill, was sent to the hospital with an ordei for admission signed by two members of the Board, alleging that he called at Dr. Paget's house and was examined by the doctor, who then demanded 7s 6d fee;, also alleging that as the result 01 what ensued Dr. Paget used insulting language to him; and that Mrs. Reeo. took her husband away in a fainting condition. "The u.atter seems to us serious," concluded the letter. Correspondence from Mr. and Mrs. Reed, giving fuller details of the case, were also read, confirming the statements of Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy's letter, a copy of which had been sent to Dr. Paget for comment. His reply was as foi.ows: DR. PAGET REPLIES.

"E(ferring to yours of the 15th inst., with copy of Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy's alleged e omplaint by A. 11. Beed, I must decline m enter into the merits or otherwise of the complaint by letter. The statement is, in my opinion, slanderous, and if given publicity I SiiaiJ take legal proceedings against those who utter it. I do not, however, wish to su ; . proper enquiry by the Board, ana ai.. .juite willing to meet Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy before a committee of the rest of the Board and hear what they have to say, and, if necessary, comment upon it. I must, however, decline to consent to those two gentlemen occupying the position of botn my accusers and my judges. " Mr. Kennedy at this stage said he wished to make an explanation. He had not accused the doctor of anything. The facts had been reported to him by the patient at the hospital, and he thought the charge was such that the doctor should be acquainted with it and have an opportunity "to refute it if he wished. Therefore he had mentioned the matter to the chairman. Mr. Maxwell endorsed Mr. Kennedy's Temarks. They had simply communicated the knowledge acquired to the chairman. Mr. Ward moved, "That Dr. Paget be asked to give 'an explanation in writing by 2 p.m. to-day; and that the Boaro. have no Objection to the doctor appearing before the Board so as to give him further opportunity for explanation in reply." Mr. Ward said he considered the reply was practically "A GAME OF BLUFF." !

Mr. and Mrs. Reed*, he continued, would be in town at 2 o'clock, and they should be present. The speaker said he did not want to be unfair to the doctor, and he should be asked to be pres--1 ent, too. They should have the explanation filed and put on record for all time. To Mr. Ward's mind, it was almost an insult to the Board that their servant should tell them that he refused to give a reply in writing, but would do so orally. As far as the slanderous statements were concerned, he maintained that it was Reed who was, slandered, and he should take action. The doctor should be made to give his reply in writing, as,, if his contention to charge 7s 6d was right, then, Mr. Wara conside-red, it should go out to the pub : lie, and they should know it. (Hear, hear.) With only the correspondence before them, as at present, between Mr. Reed and the doctor, they would get "no forrader," and it would end in a squabble. On the suggestion of the chairman, it was agreed that copies of the Reed letter be sent to the doctor. Mr. Marfell, in seconding the motion, said that it was only right, when statements had been made and put in writing, that the reply should be made in writing also. He was surprised at the doctor not replying in writing. He was ;not a sensitive man, but i HE. REALLY FELT HURT | that the Board should be dictated to in the matter of delegating consideration to I a committee of certain members of the! Board.

It was explained by the chairman that the doctor's engagements for the day were heavy, and that it would be hardly possible that a reply could be obtained from him before 3 o'clock at least. Mr. Ward said he did not want to tie the doctor down to 2 o'clock, and would be agreeable to alter the time to 3 o'clock. Mr. Maxwell: There is nothing new in Reed's letters, Mr. Chairman. The Chairman: That'is so; but the Reeds are principals in the case, ana the letters are not hearsay evidence. Mr. Cameron said it was not fur that the matter should be dealt with in committee. If they would remember, some time ago there was unpleas"ntness with the doctor, and the Board -as charged by the doctor and the nrvsmpers of not giving him a fair deal bv taking it in committee. They should not do anything underhand to anyone in the matter. Mr. Ward agreed to add to '-is motion that copies of Reed's lettc-s be sent to the doctor, and, in its altered form, the motion was carried unanimously. • This was ir* position when the Board adjourned after 1 o'clock. On meeting again at 3 o'clock, Dr. Paget was in attendance, and handed in the following letter: e THE DOCTOR'S ATTITUDE.

_ "Returned please find enclosure mentioned liv you which I have not read. 1 positively decline to discuss tlie matter of Reed's alleged complaints with the Board until they hear me on the matter of Messrs. Maxwell and Ken-

nedy's complaint. The fact that I have the misfortune to be superintendent of the Stratford Hospital does not give the Board the right to interfere in°my private affairs, and until your Boara show that they have that'right I decline to discuss the matter. Under any circumstances, I refuse to enter into the fresh matter, whatever it is, until I have had the opportunity I demanded in my previous letter of dealing with Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy's complaint." Mr. Maxwell said there was no complaint made in his letter; the facts were given just as they heard them. Mr. Marchant said the Board had asked the doctor for a report, and he declined to give one. He was unable to see that ary member of the Board ha 1 put in a charge against the doctor; v.,. he gave that as a reason why he V . clined to go into the matter. He v ; willing to hear Dr. Paget on the portion in regard >io Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy, but on no other matter. * Dr. Paget: I do not propose to enter into the question of Reed's complaint. . . . I take it that Maxwell and Kennedy are not on the Board at the present time." Members: Why not? "JUDGES AND ACCUSERS BOTH." Dr. Paget: They are my accusers ana my judges; they made the accusation, and now want to sit upon me. He had very stringent remarks to make, and was not going to allow them to have a vote on the matter. It was not fair. The chairman said Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy were at liberty to leave the table or remain, as, they pleased. Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy both expressed their willingness to "put their qhairs back," but denied having made pny charges against the doctor. ° Dr. Paget said he would show them where the charge came in. The matter was not a public one, but private; and was likely to be detrimental to his private interests.

When Dr. Paget was reading the letter, Mr. Maxwell asked if the words used were in the letter. "Exactly as it stands," said the doctor, heatedly; "I am not trying to alter your words!" Continuing, lie said it was not until near the end of the letter that there was any mention of the Reeds' authority for making the statement, which apI peared as their mvn. Was that a charge. or not? he asked. He would be dictated t to by no o~ie when put in a. false position; and iie was perfectly entitled to take the position he had in the matter. They had made statements in the letter, and had taken no precaution to verify them. They were not going to act as his accusers and his judges; he saia that advisedly "It was entirely "A GROSS INTERFERENCE with his private business." DR. PAGET'S PRECAUTION. When Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy had withdrawn from the table, Dr. Paget set out to explain the position from .his point of view. The main point was that he had been careful to tell Reed over the telephone, through Mr. Potts 'in the secretary's office, to get a certificate from his medical adviser. To his surprise Reed said he (the doctor) was the adviser, and so he said he was to come up to the house, where cer-' tain matters passed between them, and he was paid 7s Cd. He did not know Reed had an order; he thought it was a recommendation for admission to the hospital. Had given him a letter to take to the secretary's office and x get the order for admission. He wished to make it clear that he treated Reed privately, and not as superintendent of the hospital. It -was absolutely necessary, before admittance was given to the hospital, that the nature, of the complaint should be known. If Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy cared to take the responsibility, well and good that was their business. Patients might be suffering from scarlet fever or other infectious diseases, and, through ignorance, obtain an order for admission. It; was quite improper, and subversive to the conduct of the hospital. It did not always follow that patients applying for admission were fit people for the hospital.

Mr. Maxwell, in reply to Dr. Paget, said Mrs. Reed told him she went to his house with an order signed byMessrs. Maxwell and Kennedy, and he considered that Reed was tlien a patient of the Stratford Hospital, and should have been examined by the superintendent without a fee,* In the discussion which followed, Mr. Marfell remarked to the doctor: Now you are' trying to corner Messrs. Maxwell and Kennedy. "I AM ON MY DEFENCE." f Dr. Paget: Certainly; I am on my defence, and I am going to conduct it as I think best. The Chairman: We are not trying you, sir. We simply wish to know if you demanded 7s 6d, and your grounds, for doing so. Dr. Paget: I am not going to say whether I demanded it or not. I contend that at the time he was my private patient. Mr. Potts, who was called in, gave his version of the conversation over the telephone with Dr. Paget. He had told the doctor that Reed had an order and Reed told him Dr. Paget was their medical adviser. In the main, Mr. Potts' story bore out the doctor's version, although he thought on finding out that the doctor was at home that it would be more convenient for Reed to call there on his way to the hospital. . A long and ill-natured discussion followed. Mr. Maxwell said Dr. Paget admitted demanding 7s Cd from ° Reed, which the doctor said was A DELIBERATE FALSEHOOD, from the expression of which he claimed the protection of the Board. He was not trying to get out of the technicality at all, but was exercising this as a test case as to whether the Board han a right to interfere between himself and his private patients. It must be made very clear to him. if he was to continue, as his position then would lie untenable. Lately he had suffered considerable loss in his practice and oreat annoyance by the slanderous statements

that had been circulated. Certain people in the town (ami he had evidence from the best authority) had been interfering with his private practice, one party having gone so far as to attempt to induce a Jady patient to cancel her engagement with him. "It was not a member of the Board/' he said in answer to an interjection. As to the rules, Dr. Paget said it would be perfectly impracticable to carry on the work of the hospital if they were strictly adhered to. In reply to Mr. Ward, Dr. Paget said he did not believe it was the cusflbm for New Plymouth not to charge fers when a patient desiring admission to the hospital went to the superintendent for examination. Although Mr. Bellringer (chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board) was Mr. Ward's authority, he did not think it was right. He was willing to have Dr. Valintine's decision obtained as to whether he was within his rights in charging a fee; either Dr. Valintine or some other impartial person. Mr. Ward: If Dr. Paget admitted Reed to the hospital, the order could not have been a foolish one, as he says. Dr. Pairet: I v.i 1 discuss that later on; as a matter of fact, it was an extremely foolish one. Mr. Ward said he could not see that the statements in Messrs Maxwell and Kennedy's letter were slanderous.

Mr. Maxwell: He has just admitted it all. Dr. Paget (very excitedly): I said before that it was a falsehood; now I SAY IT IS A LIE, and, further, that Maxwell is a deliberate liar! I a,., for the protection of the chair. The chairman: Are you not having the protection of the chair? Dr. Paget: I will not stand here and have these things said. 1 repeat, M....wcll is a liar! The chairman (shocked): Dr. Paget' Dr. Paget! ° ' Mr. Maxwell left his chair and walked with determination writ large u,pon ins countenance round the table to where Dr. Paget stood. Dr. Paget: It is grossly unfair that •these thing's should be said; it just shows to what depths • The chairman: Now, Dr. Paget! You are putting yourself in the wrong now! Dr. Paget: lam not, sir! I cannot say anything stronger. I wish I could. Mr. Ward, you evidently think it is a great joke to have a deliberate lie circulated about my character, but I don't! Mr. Ward: I think it only right that you ■should conduct yourself properly. The chairman (sharply): Mr. Ward! Mr. Ward! It is no business of yours to address Dr. Paget in that manner. I am sorry, Dr. Paget, that you so forgot yourself! Dr. Paget: I didn't forget myself! I wish to repeat it again, and stronger if I could. The chairman said there was a good deal to be said on both sides as to admission being obtained to the hospital with an order from members with and without a doctor's certificate. On the one hand, if a person came a long distance, perhaps late at night, and was seriously ill, there might be a difficulty in obtaining! a certificate; whereas on the other hand there was the question of infectious diseases to be considered. When Dr. Paget had finished and Mr. and Mrs. Reed were admitted, the doctor said if they were to be heard he would have to get counsel to represent ihim, as he was anxious to get away. Dr. Paget's content:.-r. was mat the Board had no juris.lietL :i to deal with the case, and he strongly objected to the matter having been dealt with in open board, again stating that should the statements made in the letter be, published he would institute an action for slander.

The chairman said the public was fairminded, and he considered it was best for all that the matter should be ventilated in the press. Dr. Paget and the chairman differed on this matter, the former remarking: "My practice does not consist in dealing with only wise people." The chairman: Will you sit down, Dr. Paget, and hear what "Mr. Reed has to say? Dr. Paget: Am I not entitled to courtesy? The chairman: Are you complaining of the lack of it? ° Dr. Paget: There is lack of courtesy in allowing the publication of the charges. Mr. Reed was then asked a few questions, the replies to which were in accordance with an injunction from the chairman to "cut it short!" _ The outcome of it all was the handing in of Dr. Paget's resignation, which the chairman advised him to put in his pocket until the Board had come to a deci'sion as to whether Reed was a patient of the hospital or the doctor's private patient. THE BOARD'S DECISION.

Mr. Marfell moved: "That the Board considers Mr. Reed was a hospital patient from the time he obtained the order from the members of the Board, and that Dr. Paget, being medical superintendent, was not entitled to make the charge of 7s M as a private patient, and that this is in accordance with article 87 of the Board's by-laws." This was seconded by Mr. Meredith and carried, the members being unanimous. Messrs Maxwell and Kennedy did not vote. In answer to the secretary, the Board affirmed that he had carried'out his duty in the matter quite satisfactorily. On being informed of the resolution, Dr. Paget said, ''All right, sir," and he went on to say he was not the least bit satisfied, and would continue to charge i/s Od as before, under similar circumstances. It was a matter between himself and Ins patients. DR. PAGET RESIGNS. "I know what m Y agreement with the Board is," said Dr. Paget. After a lot more talk in the same strain. Dr. Pa<ret handed in his resignation, which was°as follows: "I give notice .that the agreement between myself and the Board terminates one calendar month from this date. The full reasons for my resignation I will set out later." Dr. Paget said he was not goin* to appeal to Dr. Valintine. The chairman said the doctor could hardly expect the Board would stultify itself by doing so . << Do y ou absolutely desire to hand in your resignation, doctore '\es, sir." ! The motion to accept the rr.^natton was moved by Mr Kennedy and lecond«'«l I)J Mr. Meredith .n„,l carried nem ™»- and the Board then prowled hi I discuss preliminaries in regard to fil'linnthe potion of medical superintendent I when it became.vacant. I