The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-02-07
DIR. ARTHUR s. CHENEY


Demands An Investigation by Grace Hospl-
tai Board.
DR.. Arthur S. Cheney. one of the best
known surgeons and physicians in the city,
has been dropped from the staff of Grace
hospital physicians and surgeons and
charge made against, him, which all his
friends Indignantly denounce, Is to be In
vestigated. The deposed surgeon was charg-
ed, with accepting fees from ward patient
at the hospital. He has demanded an in
vestigation and hundreds of his friends,
who have heard of the action of the board
of physicians and surgeons In failing. to re-
appoint him, are supporting him In his ef-
fort to have the entire matter thoroughly
investigated. The friends of DR.: Cheney be-
lieve he will come out of the investigation
unscathed and predict that the true inward
ness of the charge made against him viii be
| revealed
The action of the board of surgeons and
physicians of Grace hospital In dropping
DIR. Cheney from the staff has been the sub
! ject of much discussion In medical circles
The hospital authorities are reticent on the
subject, but it will all come out loter on.
The hospital staff of Grace hospital are
appointed by the board of physicians and
surgeons. That board consist Of Or. Paul
Sktf, Dr. b ~: II Cheney, DR., ". a. s. sage &
Dr. B. II. Cheney, father of DR.. Arthur
S. Cheney, is president of the board, He
knew nothing whatever about the dlsposi-
tion Of the other members OF the board to
drop his son from the house staff until last
Wednesday evening. The board met at that
time and appointed DR.. Jewell Adams, SEN
senior srugeon, and Drs. Wilbur e. Butler,
e. c. M. Hall, B. S. Adams and Robert J.
Ferguson, junior surgeons. The board met
previously on the evening Of the Ye, Wednes.
evening was at variance with what was
done at the first meeting when DR.. Jewell
Adams was elected senior surgeon with six
assistants, including DR.. Arthur s.. Cheney.
DIR. Ferguson upwlV added TO the list
When the board announced its intention
of dropping DR.. Cheney from the staff and
adding DR.. Ferguson, the president of the
board was naturally. surprised and asked
why such action had been taken. 1t was
announced that the young surgeon was
dropped because he had violated a rule of
the institution which prohibits any of the
physicians or surgeons from accepting fees
from ward patients.
1t was further stated that members of
the board had been given receipt alleged
mer ward patient at the hospital. No
charge was made against the surgeon in
open meeting, however. The members of
the board of physicians and surgeons re-
fused to state to whom the receipt Is al
legged to have been given.
When DR.. Arthur Cheney was informed Of
the action of the board he Immediately de-
manded to be informed Of all the circuln-
stances connected with the alleged receipt
given by him to patient. He called on
Dr. ID. J. Walker, the secretary of the hos
pital board, and demanded an explanation.
He also demanded that he be shown the re-
tceipt which was used as a reason by the
board for not reappointing him. DR.. Walker
said he did not have 1t then, but promised
is also understood that he called on officers
Of the hospital and Indignantly denied ever
having given any such receipt to former
ward patient of the institution.
The doctor was seen at his office at 112
College street, yesterday morning, and ask.
ed to state his side of the case. He replied
that he preferred not to discuss the matter
at this time. He smiled good naturally and
said he felt confident that the affair will be
satisfactorily adjusted when the hospital
authorities take 1t up again.
The authorities Of the hospital have prom
Used to call another meeting of the board
and it is expected that DR.. Cheney will be
given an opportunity to prove his convention
that the board was seriously misinformed.
Owing to the rticence of the doctor the
exact course that he intends to follow cam
not be ascertained. but his friends predict
that the investigation will be extremely in
teresting
Among those who demanded that the off
GERS of the hospital make the fullest posi-
Bile investigation were a number of very
prominent contributors to the funds of the
Institution. They state that when this mat
ter Is investigated, as it will soon be, 1t Will
be found that this doctor has been the cause
of very serious misunderstanding. To
any one who knows the efficiency and pro-
fessional ability Of the surgeon and his un-
strange that the board Of physicians and
surgeons would have accepted lightly SO
serious a charge against his professional
honor. He has taken a keen interest In the
welfare Of Grace hospital and since his con.
nection with the institution as a surgeon,
his record has been unusually fine An in
spection of the records will show that last
fall he didn't miss single day and during
his terms Of service he visited the hospital
daily, except when prevented by sickness
1t Is said that no opportunity was given
Dr. Cheney to be present and refute the
charges made against him. No one was
more surprised at the unexpected turn mat
tiers took at the last meeting than DR.. b.
Fl. Cheney. 1t came to him like thunder
bolt out Of &C lear sky.
In view of the matter In which DR..
Cheney has been treated it is doubtful
whether he will accept reappointment at
the hospital. He will insist on a vindica-
ton first however, and guide his future
course accordingly.
Mrs. B. II. Cheney mother Of the deposed |
physician, is president of the Woman's
board of Grace hospital and has done much
toward building up the institution. She has |
given geeat deal of time to the work snd !
has been prominently identified with every
effort made in behalf of the institution. |
MRS KINNEY E-ELECTED