New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
THE RIGHTS or THE 81 RGEON.
HOW FAR MAY HE OPERATE WHEN he HAS

HOW EAR MAY HE OPERATE WHEN he HAS
! ONCE EEGrN?-DR. MBURNEY's VIEWS.
4 recent lawsuit in London involving the right Of
a .urocou to MS. his own udl i,ni 10 th' extent
IN which "A surgical operation might honcrhhy he
carried even as against the expressed WISH "l '"'
patient was brought to the attention OF pr 'ha'''s
McBurney the other day by representative "i me
Tribune In the case referred to the patient VINO
was a voiirg woman brought suit against an emf
nenf London surgeon for having violated MS prom
lse as to the extent TO which he should carry the
oporation. \ verdict WAS rendered in favor Of the
| dcfondani which caused considerable unfavorable
comment by the London press.
DIR McBurney said: Il should like TO see the honor
OF the profession vind.catod. The merits oi TINS
whole case hinge upon the question. Did the patient
and her physician have an unqualified understand
ing aa TO the extent to which the operation should
he carried. beyond which 1t should. upon no con-
sidoration 20 This / doubt. Iut n they d!d have
such an agreement then the surgeon should have
kent his promise patient has Just rs much risht
to any organ OF his body as hc has 20 nF'-d'liAr
n,u ,hot he owns For cases upon which operate
I'm charity hospitals have regular blanks. Ike h"iN
checks which read. !. --. agree TO nav" such
and such an operation performed or ary other.
which more near examination may demons,fti
as necessary Before begin upon these patients !
e.t their sienaturoa to these blanks Many Of
Them are so ignorant as to rcu1r AMY comrr'hcn-
sion Of their situation impossible
But you could not get the mor" Intelligent bet
ter class Of patients to sign such paper
..It would not De- necessary. To these last We car
expain that after the incisiOn IS made ana clear
and direct examination made. condition may b"
revealed which would double th" operation re-
ouircd 80 patient should place himself In The
hands of "a surgeon f.: am operation unless h' has
the most perfect confidence n his XIII nud honor.
II any Of ny pailen,s w'r" TO say to M. Now.
doctor vou may 20 thus far hut not farther IN TINS
on. ration and this YOU must promise. 10 matter
what conpl'ratl1n= tic in.l-.ln may reveal tp you.
should decline 20 operate. ana tel in' patient 10
seek some other surgeon
..lu th- very cas. Of this London nurse. for in
stance W, viii suppose that direct examination r.
vonicd "a cauccrous growth. which. II removed at
untieut To- health Would II not be- better to com
influence Of anacsihctics than 20 allow hcr to 70
cover cons .ousn,ss. explain tho condition. read
minister th.. ether and begin the operation sec
ond ,imc? No surgeon who is "a man Of honor VIII
| extend AN operation beyond that point which hc
de. ms fh. best good Of hi- patient.
.I,ut as -aid De fore. II tho doctor does gis' his
prorniSc To restrict and Limit the operation which
he il about 10 perform h' should keep his word.
| And most Of them Sometime after patient
has undergone a most painful ana critical opera
| lion bv which alone he could have been restored
TO health. his friends get around him and convince
him tnaf ne has been bufchcrr1 all for nothing. II
Il ever can be- proved that Il surgeon has r'pudlItcd
his word 10 a patient the doctor should b" pun
| ishcd. Bui C3nscicniOus. skllfu. practitioner
| Will not make such promise, think"