THE O’DOWD CASE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2174, 25 April 1908, Page 2

THE O’DOWD CASE

Tho curtain has been rung down on the unfortunate O’Dowd case by the receipt of a report from the Inspec-tor-General of Hospitals, and its .adoption by the Hospital Trustees last evening. Attention was first drawn to tins ease by a letter published in the “Times” in October last, in which Mr. J. O’Dowd gave his version of tho facts connected with his son’s sojourn as a patient in the Gisborne hospital. , The writer stated, in effect, that his son hail been neglected whilst in that institution, and that as a result of tlio neglect tho lad had afterwards lost his leg. The amputation had taken place at a private hospital after young O’Dowd had been taken away from tlio public institution, tlio operation being performed in the presence of Drs. Scott, Collins, and Williams. According to Mr. O’Dowd, each of these gentlemen passed remarks which seemed to imply that tho case had been improperly treated. As Mr. O’Dowd put the facts there was matter for a full and prompt enquiry. Tho reputation of tlio hospital, of the staff, and, to a lessor dogreo, of tlio Trustees, was involved, anil at the time considerable indignation was exhibited by a large section of the public. However, it lias happened in this case as might almost liavo been anticipated, that official deliberation and procrastination have proven more than equal to tlio task of silencing public agitation. Accepting Dr. Valintine’s report as an accurate statement of tho position, it would seem that the Trustees could very easily have allayed the uneasiness caused by Mr. O’Dowd’s letter by the publication of evidence that could have readily been obtained at the time, but instead tlioy chose to adopt a policy of decided reticence. - Evidence was actually taken by a member, of tlio Board but, for reasons best 'known to themselves, the Trustees declined to take the public into their confidence, and by their secrecy lent additional color to the allegations that had been made. If the Trustees considered they were themselves on trial in the matter, it would have been reasonable to withhold the publication of the evidence they had. obtained, but not otherwise. The next phase was when tlio claim for a public enquiry was forwarded oil to Dr. Valintine, anil nearly six montlis after Mr. O’Dowd’s letter was published, comes the report, not of a public enquiry, but of” a private investigation made by the Inspector-General. For '.ourselves we have every confidence in (Dr. Valintine’s capacity and fairness, .put it must be recognised that.,liis very brief summary of private enquiries is a vastly different thing from the public enquiry that was asked for. The Inspector-General may have considered that there-were good reasons why Mr. O’Dowd’s request in this particular should not be acceded to, but if so it would have only boon reasonable to have stated the fact. To us it certainly seems that the secrecy observed throughout- has operated very unfairly to thoso who were involved in the charges made. One aspect of the iiosition that calls for comment is the attitude of the medical gentlemen whose names were used by Mr. O’Dowd, and who have since entirely repudiated the statements attributed to them. According to Dr. Valintine, these were of, such importance as to really form the base of .the charges made, yet they permitted their names to be used to strengthen a violent attack on tlio hospital staff without a word of protest. Judging from ono sentence in the report published in this issue, it would appear that Dr. Valintine does not relish the searchlight of tlio press being thrown upon any shortcomings that may occur in the institutions that come under his control, but wo feci sure that upon reflection lie must recognise that tho newspapers are his most valuable allies in assist- [ ing to keep tho hospitals at tho high standard 1 which lie seeks. However, the O’Dowd case may now be looked upon as settled, and it is gratifying to liavo the Inspector-General’s assurance that- the serious charges made were unfounded. Tho pity of it is that such an assurance was .not available from some responsible source montlis ago. Before leaving tlio subject, it is a pleasure to record the fact that I lie re-organisation of the hospital, which this journal fought for so determinedly; has been attended with most beneficial results, am! that the. Gisborne, hospital under the management of Dr. Carlyle Wilson is an institution of which tho town may well be proud.