MORTALITY OF WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1921, Page 4

MORTALITY OF WOMEN.

DOMINION’S BAD RECORD. MEDICAL PROFESSION BLAMED By Telegraph -Pre«' Aanaai’itir.n Christchurch, Last Night. There has been a great deal of discussion lately on the figures published by the children’s bureau of the United States Department of Labor, which place New Zealand almost at the bottom of the list of nations in respect to the mortality of women in child-birth. The Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Health) asked Dr. Valintine (Director-General of Health) for a report on the subject. Dr. Valintine says he is oflic ally advised that the figures given for New Zealand are correct, but he is unable to p.ay whether New Zealand’s figures are strictly comparable with those of other countries. Comparisons based on a single year’s figures are unsatisfactory. The New Zealand rate for 1917 was higher than for any year since 1894. Dr. Valintine goes on to say: “We must await further information before we can condemn either the department or the medical profession, but at the same time I may say that departmental officers, not being in practise, cannot be blamed for the mortality. The remedies, if any are needed, to remove this blot on our mortality returns must be insisted oft by the department on the practising members of the profession, who must be regarded as primarily responsible for this mortality. I believe the average work of the medical profession in this Dominion is more than comparable with the work in other lands, but I have good reason for believing that the exigencies of a busy practise lead to much hurried midwifery, which must be disastrous to both mother and child. I have also reason to believe that much of the septic disease associated with maternity is not frankly reported to the department in its early stages, thus handicapping the departmental officers from preventing the spread of diseases associated with maternity. These facts will be brought before the medical board, and no doubt drastic steps will be taken, if considered, to counteract this apparent negligence.”