The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-20
Coroner's Jury of Experts Say
Haiselden Was Morally and
Ethically Within Rights
HEALTH COMMISSIONER
PASSES HOT CRITICISM
Verdict Declares No Reason to
Believe Babe Would Have
Been a Moral or Mental De-
fective Had 1t Lived

Chicago, Nov. l9.-Dr. Harry j.
Haiselden was indicated today
A coroner's jury composed OF six
leading physicians and surgeons de-
clared chief-of-staf of the German
American Hospital was morally and
officially within his rights in refus-
ing to perform an operation which
would have saved the life of Allan
j. Bollinger, a deformed baby. He
believed II woud grow up mentally
and morally defective.
But the vinuication had It's reserve
clause. The jury declared 1t found
no evidence that baby Bollinger would
have become mentally or morally de-
fectiye, and expressed the belief that
its physical defects in measure
might have yielded to pastic treat
ment.
The vindication Of DR.. Haiselden
was set forth in these words;
we believe that morally and ethi-
cally a surgeon is fully within his
rights in refusing to perform any ope-
ration which his conscience will not
sanction. We find no reason to be-
lieve that the parents OF Allan ].
Bollinger were deprived of the privi-
lege of consultation"
The string which the vindicatfon
carried was pointed by the following
recommendation;
We recommend strongly that In
all doubtful cases of this character.
a consultation OF two or more sur
geons Of known reputation for skill,
ethical standing and broad experience,
should decide upon the advisa bility
of operative measures DR.. Haisel-
den testified at the inquest fifteen
physicians were called by him to see
the Bollinger baby, and all refused
to operate.
Physician's Highest Duty
Though the verdict sustains. DIR.
Haiselden as morally and ethicaily"
right, the tailpiece would seem to In.
dictate the Jury held DR.. Haiselden
morally right but legally wrong. This
verdict closed with these significant
remarks:
We believe that the physician's
highest duty is to relieve suffering
and to save or prolong life"
DR.. Ludwig Pektoen, professor Of
the University of Chicago. was fore
man of the jury.
DR.. D. A. X. Steele. deap of the ply
sicians and surgeons OF the medical
college Of the University of Illinois;
DR.. Arthur Rankin, professor OF
anatomy of Iawyola University. and
DR.. John r. Golden. associate of Dr.
John B. Murphy at the Mercy Hos
tpital.
The verdict came at the end Of testi-
mony of startling character. DIR.
Haishlden, stung by criticism from DR..
John Din Robertson, interrupted the
commissioner OF health to say that
from information in his hands babies
are allowed to die by physicians
secretly at least once a day In CHI
cago. This statement was uncontra-
dicted DIR. Robertson, in reply to q
question by DR.. Haiselden. admitted
/ that such details as baby Bollingers
had happened in the city many
| times before"
| DR.. IIaiseiden also took a fling a,
the prevalence of abortion in Chicago.
Chicago allows to occur daily" he
said. and it is no crime SO long as
| the woman does not die. l can point
| out men and women who perform
| abortion constantly. I can get the
| goods on them, but nothing. II
seems. can be done to stop this ter.
rible practice. I know ten or fifteen
women who perform abortions every
| day"
| In this amazing setting forth OF
| facts. Coroner Hoffman concurred.
Operation Would Have saved Life.
! 1--WE believe that the highest duty
of a physician Is to save or prolong
life--but~-
I'VE believe that a physician has
the right to refuse to perform an
operation"
These were the striking features Of
the verdict found tonight by the
lease Of DIR. Harry Haiselden, who let