New-York tribune., 1901-02-01
HITS BELLEVUE HARD.
GRAND JURY RECOMMENDS SWEEPING
CHANGES IN HOSPITAL.
SAYS ORoURKE. RICHARD AND MOORE
SHOULD Go-HOLDs THAT CHARGES OF
CRUELTY AND POLITICAL IN
FLUENcE ARE TRUE

Sweeping changes in Bellevue Hospital usr.
recommended yesterday by the Grand Jury in its
presentment- The investigation was caused BY ths
killing OF Louis H. Hilard in the insane pavilion
at Bellevue. for which three OF the nurses are
under indictment The Grand Jury declares that
the case Of Hilliard is not the only one in which
brutal treatment was accorded patients
Out Of the 100 patients admitted the Manhattan
State Hospital from Bellevue in 1900. the Grand
Jury finds that 80 had bruises and contusious
which they did not have when admitted TO Belle
vue The Grand Jury finds that the nurses en-
ployed in the insane pavilion are without expert
ence in treating insane patients.
The Grand Jury recommends the dismissal OF
Superintendent O'Rourke and Deputy Superfnteud-
ent Richard and DR.. John W. Moore II finds that
appointments made for political reasons rather
than for ability and competence
The Grand Jury holds the Medical Board respon-
sibIe for the condition OF affairs in Bellevue The
presentment is signed by Maynard Hollister. the
foreman
sentiment that he would have IT placed file and
forward IT 10 the proper persons He praised the
work of the Grand Jury, Judge Cowing compIi-
uented the District Attorney doing so well in
his first month In Office.
The members OF the Grand Jury presented the
foreman with mahogany gsveI bound with silver
bands.
The presentneut says in part:
We were unable find that the nurses in charge
Of the Day9n have refsived any pr pTevoTS m
standing their lack of experience in this regard the
with practically no one 70 supervise them in the
We found that for some time prior to January I.
1891. William B. O'Rourke was the superintendent
sistant superintendent. and that Dr. John w;
Moore period of six weeks prior thereto, had
6 6 the sns6 S5s6 as paon 9 5ss s nd ha the s
O'Rourke and the said RickaTd and the said Moore
grossly incompetent and negligent In the per
formance Of their duties, in that they did not dis
cover and did not check the ab lse OF insane
patients in the pavilion.
METHODS OUT OF DATE.
We found that for many years mechanical
straint in the nature OF restraining belts strait
means. have been commonly used in the said pavil-
ion, whereas their use has long ago been anan-
dale. Matteawan and most of the prominent In
stitutOns in the State
According to the testimony taken before us we
found that the books Of the insane pavilion have
been KEPT in negIigent and ana tne0mPeIen5 way &
made to Bellevue not by reason Of the fitness OF the
political influence of the witnesses testifying
positively and directly to that effect ,..,,.,-
proper is antiquated and unsuited for modern hos
It is fairly deducibIe from the testimony sub
mitted 70 that in point of fact the Medical
administration OF Bellevue 1t has been made
clear to how this state of affairs has been
suited from the gradual and steady encroachment
OF that body upon the Prerogatives Of the Connis-
institution We therefore recommend:
of broad Business 1e trgng P6sses3g good
tive ability and that he should be held responsible
ministration OF Bellevue.
Second-That the pavilion for the insane should
not be left to the chance care OF newly fedged
physician as has hitherto been the case but that
a practitioner trained and experienced in the mod
charge Of its wards so as 10 insure 70 their
| the kindly benevoence that governs IN all well
i ordered hospitals for ne insane.
Third-That the practice OF using the pavilion for
the insane as a course in the training OF hospital
nurses be abandoned and that nurses or attendants
assigned 70 duty in that pavilion oe selected from
among those who are trained and experienced In
cal abandonment OF the OF straiCtacHets. hand
Guns. ankle shackles and other violent restraining
Fourth-That the books should be kept by a com
| patient be noted in them; and also that ali in
juries which said patient may have received before
-sTni,-a 1r5ir t5srs a15 t5s r5r.s Sor ssr1s
he entered IN them. and signed by both the doctor
/ I'm charge and the nurse
| FEE SYSTEM SHOULD NOT Re RESUMED.
! Fifth-That the fee system in connection with
resumed but that all formalties IN connection with
these transfers shall be made part OF the duty OF
| sixth-That the said O'Rourke the said Ricka-d
and the said Moore, who still IN the employ OF
the institution be removed by the Commissioner Of
! Sevenrh-That hereafter IT shall be the care of
the Commissioner and the superintendent that ap-
/ pointments TO Bellevue from the superintendent
down. shall be for efficiency. and not for reasons Of
| political preferment-
When Commissioner Keller was asked about the
| preseutment he said
Of the Grand Jury l shall study carefully with a
view TO adopting any suggestions that improve
/ the service In Bellevue Hospital
| Superintendent O'Rourk4 and Dr. Moore refused
20 say anything. Dr. Fitch Of the insane pavilion
said it was shame that dismissal should be
! recommended for DR.. Moore. He declared the in
| sane pavilion had never been in better care.