WRONGLY COMMITTED.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1922, Page 8

WRONGLY COMMITTED.

WOMAN AT MENTAL HOSPITAL. “AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE.” (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, July 26. The cases of a n elderly woman who was committed to the Avondale Mental Hpspital and was subsequently released after she had been found not. to be insane was mentioned in the House of Rcbresentatives by Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne). The member referred to a report that the woman had lost her business owing to her committal and he asked for full inquin' into the circumstances. He suggested that the magistrate concerned should be removed from his position if he were found to have exercised his power in a perfunctory man-

The Minister for Health (Mr. Parr) replied that in this case all the facts had not been stated. It was true that an unfortunate mistake had. 'been made, inasmuch as the woman was committed to a mental hospital. The mistake Was discovered immediately by the medical superintendent of the hospital, and the woman was discharged. Mr. Lysnar: Not until someone intervened for her.

The Minister replied that the woman was released as soon as a srntable home could be found for her. She was not a fit inmate for a mental hospital, but she required care and supervision. The adverse criticism on the Department in this case had not been well grounded. The woman had been in a mental hospital some years ago and there W’as no dotibt about her insanity at that time. *he was given treatment and was discharged cured. Then recently she made an attempt upon her -own life. She took gas and had to be sent to an ordinary hospital, where she recovered. She threatened several times to make another attempt on her life, and the local policeman became alarmed about her. This policeman, who was a thoroughly experienced officer; arrived at the conclusion that she ought to be under supervision. He accordingly made application to the magistrate. This magistrate, one of the most experienced men upon the Bench, directed that she should be examined by two doctors, 'and on their certificates she was sent to the mental hospital. The medic’al superintendent formed the opinion that she should not be there and he took the necessary steps to have her discharged. The Minister added that he was inquiring into the case. He realised that people ought to be protected against error in matters of the kind, but it was not easy to see how such a case could be met by any possible change in the law. The mistake was made outside the mental hospital and was corrected inside the hospital. Mr. Lysnar: The question is, did the magistrate do his duty ? Apparently he did not.

The Minister: That is the question. It is a matter I must take up m order to get the full facts. We have not heard yet what the magistrate has to say and -what the two doctors have to say. Mr. Parr added that the system in operation in New Zealand gave greater protection to the public than was accorded in either .Britain or the United States. A person could be committed to a mental hospital in Britain on two medical certificates procured by the relatives or the person concerned- The New Zealand law required that the case should come before a magistrate and that the certificates should be -given by two doctors selected by the magistrate from a special list. The case that had been mentioned required attention and he intended to make full inquiry. The Hon.'J. C. Coates, as Minister in charge of the Public Trust Office, referred also to the case, rfe said that the office had been mentioned in some of he newspaper reports. Mr. Lysnar : You sold her up while she was there,' illegally. Mr. Coates said that in a case of the kind the property came automatically under the jurisdiction of the Public Trustee. This officer went to a magistrate or judge before definite action was taken. The woman in this case was committed to the mental hospital on July 5. 1921. The case was reported by the Rev. Mr. Mason, of Otahuhu, who stated that the estate was a small country store at Otahuhu. He produced a letter from thp expressing her wish that the store should be disposed of, as she did not intend to return to Otahuhu. The store was inspected by an inspector of the Public Trust Office on July 8 and an inventory 'and valuation were made. The total valuation was £75. The store was in a filthy condition and the goods were mostly of a. perishable nature. Authority was given for the sale of the stock soon afterwards and the- goods were tab -i to a neighboring town and sold by auction, the sum realised being

£77. The patient was' discharged on -July 30 and the office made a settlement with her a few days later. She called at the office'accompanied by Mr. Mason, who was acting as her advisor, and both expressed entire satisfaction at the result of the sale, The report, added the Minister, showed that the store was in an extraordinary state of filth. The men had to sprinkle disinfectant before they [jacked the goods. The premises were cleaned and subsequently were let. The woman did not return to Otahuhu, so that the prompt action of the Public Trust Office placed her affairs in a satisfactory posi- [ tion. The Mental Hospitals Department,

at the special request of the Public Trust Office, did not make any charge for maintenance, and the sole charge against the estate was a committal charge of vtwo guineas-