The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-01
DR.. CHARLT0N'S STATEMENT.
HE GIVES HIS EVIDENCE AGAINST
DIR. FITCH.

Him to Make the Statement which
He Did at the Meeting of Council
Last week-AfIidavits From the
Matron and Nurses at the Georgia
Inhrmnry and From Fellow Ser
wants of DIR. Fitch's Patient Show
ing the Foundation for DIR. CharI-
toms statement.
DR.. T. ]. Charlton gave to the Morning
News yesterday the evidence upon which
he based his statement before the meeting
of City Council Wednesday night. that
DIR. w. f, Fitch, after having violated
a courtesy extended to him by the au-
thorites of the Georgia Infirmary to oper-
ate upon a charity patient by inviting
physician from another city to perform
Ehe operation. was reported to have de,
manded and received pay for lis opera
ton. Together with his evidence. DR..
Charlton submits a statement explaining
his position in the matter.
The discussion is one which has aroused
much interest among the physicians. as
well as the public generally. The aft
davits obtained by Dr. Fitch from Han
nah Johnson and her husband in contra
diction of the report given publicity by
DIR. Charlton at the hearing Wednesday
might have already been published by the
Morning News. DR.. Charton's state
ment and evidence are as follows:
Il regret very much the occasion which
rendered necessary the remarks l made
at Wednesdays meeting of Council in
reference to Dr. Fitch and his patient at
the Georgia Intirmary. In justice to the
infrmary and those connected with it. as
well as to the medical profession of the
city l felt in duty bound 90 speak as l
did.
During a discussion relative to Dr.
Doughty of Augusta having come to Sa-
vannah and operating upon a patient at
the Georgia Infirmary. some physician
present asked DR.. Daniel. who was speak
ing If there was any objection made to
this Before DR.. Daniel could reply to
this DR.. Simmons said: ASK him If DR.
Charlton did not say it would be the last
time 1t was this inquiry of DR.. Sim
mons that called forth my remarks
The facts of the case are as follows:
Dr. Weichselbaum. The Superintendent of
the Georgia Inirmary. at the request Of
DIR. Fitch. admitted TO the public ward of
the infrmary, as a charity case. a woman
who was patient of DR.. Fitch's As Dr.
Fitch was very much interested in the
case he requested of DR.. Weichse baum
permission 10 operate. This courtesy was
granted to him, as It had been to many
other members of the medical pro Tess on.
The granting of the courtesy CARR d with
1t the Implied recognition of DR.. Fitch's
ability to perform the operation whi-h Of
itself was a compliment to Dr. Fitch In
stead of operating himself DR.. Fitch re-
quested DR.. Doughty of Augusta to rer-
form the operation. This DR. Fitch did
without asking permission 10 do so. In
fact he did not even notify the supe in
tendent of the infirmary that DR.. Dough
~ would operate. In acting thus Dr.
Fitch was guilty of discourtesy to those
in charge of the infrmary.
From the fact that Dr. Doughty of Au-
gusta had operated upon a charity pa
hent in the public ward of the Georgia
1nfrmary a report arose and was widely
circulated that no physician in Savannah
was competent 10 do this kind of work.
and that physician from Augusta had to
be brought down to perform il. AS a
matter of fact this operation has been re-
peatedly and successfully performed here
by Savannah physicians and at the time
DR., Doughty operated there was a pat'enr
in the same ward recovering from a similar
operation performed only few days be-
fore by Savannah physician. Because
of the violation by DR.. Fitch of the cour-
tesy granted to him, a sur was cast upon
the city. His action in this case should
meet with the condemnation from all. 1t
was not only breach of medical ethics,
but also violation of the common cour-
tesy of every day life for which ignor-
ance can be no excuse.
When at the meeting of Council on
Wednesday night the inferiority of the
medical profession of Savannah was pro-
claimed by some of the physicians pres
ent, and when this case operated upon by
DR.. Doughty of Augusta at the Georgia
Infrmary was cited as an illustration, DIR.
Fitch failed TO give the facts in the case.
Though he had accepted the courtesy
of the infrmary he violated il. and whe n
he could have defended the infirmary he
remained silent. For this he should stand
condemned DR.. Fitch's patient was OPP
Grated on June 90 ! did not know until
few hours before the operation was to
take place that DR. Doughty was going to
operate. When / did hear it was very
much Disguised with the action of DR..
Fitch, and though had the power TO stop
the operation, l did not do so, because l
had much respect for DR.. Doughty as a
man and a surgeon, because felt he was
innocent in the matter, and | did not de-
sire to make him feel uncomfortable. l dld
not connect Dr. Daniel with this case, ana
hence could not and did not blame MN
for any part in it, l did blame DR.. Fitch,
however. and felt very much disguised
WIN MS action Ill lllt Hldllti. -AlAti NpAN
fully considering the subject ! concluded
to let the matter drop and say nothing TO
DR.. Fitch about it. l came TO this conclu-
sion because DR.. Fitch was a member OF
the ST. James Dispensary, between the
members of which and myself there was
a lack of harmony, and ] did not care 10
appear as ready to take advantage of eV-
cry circumstance to make myself disagree
able to its members
When | went to the meeting OF council
on Wednesday night | had no thought OF
this case in mind. 1t was brought about
by remarks made at the meeting which
seemed to show that the disgust and re-
sentiment l felt and had expressed in ref
erence 10 DR.. Fitch's action had been
extended to include others for whom ii
was never intended. did say it was the
last case DR. Fitch should attend at the
Georgia Infirmary, and so long as | have
the power to prevent 1t he shall never
again enter its doors To others the same
courtesy that has been extended in the