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Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20268, 10 August 1937, Page 2

Dootops Not Prophets.—That dortors are often very much In error Jn I their prognostications was admitted by a medical witness who was asked In the Supremo Court, i Christchurch, whether he could esti- I mate by how many years the plaintiff’s | expectation of lifn had been reduced by Injuries received In a motoring accident. Any such estimate, the doctor replied, would be very uncertain. Oulte recently, ho said, he had assured the relatives of a patient that the patient would live for another three weeks at least.. The patient had died that very night. As another instance of medical fallibility, he told the court that he and one of the most eminent surgeons In New Zealand, a man who had been knighted for his work, onco decided unanimously in consultation that a patient had no more than six months to live. “ I saw the ' notice of that patient's death in the paper the other day,” said the witness. “ Our consultation over him was held flve and a-half years ago.” \