The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2909, 7 March 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1891. . The report of Sir M. O'l'orke and Dr. Mirbach on the_ charges of negligence made by Miss Arnaboldi in reference to the treatment of two patients in tho Auokianu Hospital has been published. Their finding justifies the statements of the informant, They point out that they have been unable to discover any but pure motives for the action the young lady took. In each case the Commissioners find that delay in resorting to the extreme measure of amputation of the limbs was the probable cause of death. In tho case of tho one patient the Commissioners state that ho died of hemorrhage, and that other measures than were taken should have been adopted. In the case of tho other patient, tho Commissioners state that amputation should have taken place at an earlier date, that the hope of saving the limb was hopeless from the first, and that tho amputation should have been higher up. They also condemn Dr. Collins for tho delay—some fifteen hours—before thoroughly examining the man's leg. The report therefore in eifect substantiates Miss Arnaboldi's statement that both men died of neglect. The report is calculated to cause great uneasiness in the public mind and points to the fact that no delay should take place before changing tho system of Hospital management. With regard to the remark of Dr ]\l'irbach that ho deplored tho act of Miss Arnaboldi as a bad precedent wocunnot agree with tho Commissioner. We say that tho thanks of the community are duo to her, tho enquiry proves that her statements were correct ami for her not to have reported tho cases would have been most distinctly a sin of omission. It is absurd to put torward tho proposition that a subordinate in a hospital is not to report on the conduct of a superior when that conduct resulted in the unnecessary death of two patients. Dr. Mirbach's suggestion that the hospitals should be removed from the exclusive control of elected Boards is inoro than backed by the conduct of tho Auckland Board towards Miss Arnaboldi- It will bo romomberod that they refused to make any enquiry till the Press brought public opinion to bear on tho case, and some of the members used most insulting language with regard to tho young lady, whicu it is to be hoped they will now have the decency to retract and amply apologise for their vulgarity and injustice. Miss Arnaboldi did her fluty, and by the finding- of the Commissioners Dr. Collins and the Board neglected theirs.