The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-29
RIGHTS OF THE SURGEON.
How Far May He Operate When lie
Has Once Begun.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
A recent lawsuit in London involving the
right of a surgeon to use his own judg-
ment as to the extent to which a surgical
operation might honorably be carried, even
as against the expressed wish of the pa
tient, was brought to the attention of DR..
Charles McBurney the other day by rep
resentative of the Tribune. In the case
referred to the patient, who was a young
woman, brought suit against an eminent
London surgeon for having violated his
promise as to the extent TO which he
should carry the opera ton. A verdict was
rendered in favor of the defendant, which
caused considerable unfavorabie comment
by the London press:
DR.. McBurney said: Il should like to
see the honor of the profession indicated.
The merits of this whole case hinge upon
the question, Did the patient and her ply
stefan have an unqualified understanding
as to the extent to which the operation
should be carried beyond which it should,
upon no consideration, go. This l doubt.
But if they did have such an agreement,
then the surgeon should have kept his
promise. patient has just as much right
to any organ of his body as he has to
IS bill that he owns. For cases upon
Which l operate in charity hospitals
have, regular blanks, like bank checks,
and such an operation performed, or any
other, which a more near examination may
demonstrate as necessary. Before begin
to these blanks. Many of them are so ig
norant as to render any comprehension of
their situation impossible"
But you could not get the more intelli-
gent, better class of patients to sign such
paper?'
ut would not be necessary. To these last
we can explain that after the incision IS
made and a clear and direct examination
made. condition may be revealed which
would double the operation required. No
patient should place himself in the hands
of a surgeon for an operation unless he has
the most perfect confidence in his skill
and honor. If any of my patients were to
say to me, Now, doctor you may so thus
far but not farther in this operation, and
this you must promise, no matter, what
complications the incision may reveal to
you,' ] should decline to operate, and tell
the patient to seek some other surgeon.
In the very case of this London nurse,
for instance, we will suppose that direct
examination revealed a cancerous growth,
which, if removed at that time, would pre-
vent its spread and restore the patient to
health. Would 1t not be better to complete
the operation while the patient was under
the influence of anaesthetics than to al
the condition, readminister the ether and
begin the operation a second time? No sur
geon who is a man of honor will extend an
operation beyond that point which he
deems the best good of his patient.
but, as / said before, if the doctor does
give his promise to restrict and limit the
operation which he is about to perform
he should keep his word. And most of
them do. Sometimes after a patient has
undergone most painful and critical OPP
GRAFTON, by which alone he could have been
restored to health, his friends get around
him and convince him that he has been
hutchered all for nothing. If it ever can be
proved that a surgeon has repudiated his
word to a patient the doctor should be
punished. But CONSCIENTIOUS, skilful
o'o = ener will not make such promise,
I Think" .