New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-26
THE RULES ARE ALL RIGHT.
CRUELTY IN HOSPITALS EXISTS. HOWEVER.
A CORONER WILL INvEsTIGATE-PATIENTs
TRANSFERRED TO BELLEVUE AT

THE POINT OF DEATH.
Coroner schultze viii on Monday hold an mvesnsa-
ton into the death Of Mrs Mary Freeman III heDeVe
Hospital Mrs. Freeman was transferred 10 Belicvue
from the German Hospital and died ten houfs a'e,
her removal. 1t has been alleged that the remov@
fastened death. The Medical Board OF the Gerhah
aospltal Yesterday made the following statement:
Mr.. Freeman was not under the immediate care ana
treatment of Dr. f. f. correct diagnosis Of
the case was made the German Hospital ana tne ue@'
ment at this institution in every respect proper S
necessary After reported TO Dr. Sondern thae INC
pa,sn had bsoone exceedingly violent and unmanaaeabe
she was transferred Bellevue Hospital with the pop
transfer slip according TO the rules OF the German Nus
pta by DR.. f. E. sonderns orders, who has fu power
to act and assumes functions Of the superintendent IN
his ah..nce The case was reported at Bellevue Hospital
by the ambulance surgeon as one OF puepeaI na'' ""
was so entered on the records Of said hospital.
The Medical Board OF the German Hospital; Dr.
Herman B. Klotz, DR. Augustus Caile' d. Hfre'
schottky.' -,
DR.. sondern called on Coroner schutze and asked
for on investigation. The Doctor told Tribune fe
por.r that the usage OF the German Hosptal-wmcil'
though unwritten is RULES to transfer all manaca
cases cases OF delrum tremens, chronic alcohons"
and infectious diseases The reason for TINS was uo
said simply that the German Hospital had not proper
accommodation for such cases.
GThe New-York SUM- published an article YESTERDAY
in which, from facts and figures quoted from tle
records OF Bellevue It showed that deaths in that In
sttution Of patients transferred from the semipuo-
lies hospitals were numerous. Tho charge Is well
founded and this is by means the first time tat IL
has been made. A Tribune reporter learned ron MI
Richard the steward OF Bellevue, who was formerly
register of the institution that he had some years ago
kent special record OF deaths Of transferred cases.
and that the matter was referred by the warden 70
tho medical board II does not appear, however, tat
any action was taken. In 1885 sixty patients ueo
within twenty-four hours after their transfer anu III
1885 fifteen died within twenty four hours ana seVei
teen within twelve hours. As In 1oo0 the toIa mum
Der OF deaths in Bellevue was 2o2, Sixty ~ahslere
made serious addition TO the percentage This special
reoo has not been kept recently but the books show
that the number of transfers has not diminished out
increased and instances OF deaths following closely on
the removal of the sufferers are plentiful
II is difficult TO place the responsibility or to suggest
remedy The charge that the hospitals dump"
their dying on Bellevue in order to keep down tler
death rate is sweeping one, and hard TO suostan''e
That hospital officials should be so wofully lnhuman
s incredibe The hospitals all have rules as to trans
fors as distinct as those OF the German Hospital
10 which reference has been made. me new
York Hospital, for instance, has provision
similar TO the German Hospital In regard TO
maniacal and infectious cases. and has TINS lurther
stringent ORDER No person shall be transferred to
whom the least danger to life or prolongsuoh Oh
recovery could result from sncn removal
But leaving entirely aside the Freeman case, as to
which the German Hospital claims to be easily able
to exculpate itself by evidence, and granting 10 te
hospals the existence OF rules which read as II tey
were as binding the laws Of the Modes, the 1ac'
remains that bellevue Hospital whatever the reason,
receives from the other hospitals so many patients
who past recovery that there Is room tor great
deal OF explanation. . -. ,r,.,.
Commissioners Porter, Of the Department OF Charities
and Correction, said yesterday that, as C0mms-
he admitted that the transfer of dying patients by
them to Bellevue was well-known story ana nc
thought that protests had been made about It, but in
vain. Bellevue he added was not In position 70
help itself. 1t had to take all corners, except pa,
tens who had infectious diseases. Besides 1t would
be cruel to send back to the hospitals whence they
came the poor creatures who were forwarded 10
Bellevue almost in artlcul0 mortS."