The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-19
JURY Of
EXPERTS TO ACT
First Case on Record to Consider
Right of Doctor to Decide IAfe
and Death Question.
PECULIAR CHICAGO CASE
TOPIC OF INTEREST
Prosecuting Attorney May BE Asked
to Take Hand-Question of Taking
Lives of Defective Children Stirs
Whole Country.

Chicagos most eminent physicians
thinks OF the Bollinger baby defec
tive and of DR.. Fl. J. Haiseldin, who
decreed that the baby should die. will
be given to the public tomorrow at
the close of the inquest. There were
indications today that 1t would be ia
vorable to DIR. Haiseldin and in favor
OF letting all babies pronounced ex-
tremely defective pass out OF the
world. But there will be reservation,
probably that some public official
should be taken into the confidence
of the acting physician.
The physicians by agreement made
no statement today, but the coroner
said they had found the Bollinger
baby more defective than has been
announced.
Prominent Physicians TO Servo.
The physicians who have agreed to
serve on the jury are: DR.. John +.
Golden. representing DR.. John B. Muir
ply. head surgeon at Mercy Hospital.
and known throughout the world az
a leader In his profession; DIR. Arthur
Rankin. professor OF anatomy at
Loyola University Medical School. the
big Catholic institution of the city;
DR.. Howard Chislett, dean OF Hahne-
mann Medical College; DR.. D. A. X.
Steel, dean Of the College of Physi-
clans and Surgeons Of the University
Of Illinois; DIR. Henry r. Lewis, pro-
ty Hospital: DIR. Ludwig Hektoen. pro-
fsssor Of pathology at Rush Medical
College.
The decision to impanel the jury of
experts followed a conference which
lasted throughout the morning In the
coroner's Office between that official.
DR.. John D. Robertson. commissioner
OF health, who had refused to issue
burial permit for the body of the
ner's physician, who went to the hos
pital soon after the baby's death and
performed an autopsy.
CofOner's Duty to Act
Dr. Robertson took the position that
1t was the duty OF the coroner to act,
not only because Of the unusual fea-
lures OF the case. but because OF the
great interest 1t had attracted
DIR. Reinhardt presented an ex-
haustive report Of tho result of the
autopsy, discussing not only the
giving his conclusions ~ to whether
or not the baby. had It been allowed
to live. might have developed mental
ly to an extent sufncient to have given
It a chance to become an useful men,
Der OF tho community.
Coroner Hoffman. In selecting the
Jury. purposely chose II to represent
not only the different schools OF
medicine. but the different schools
OF thought.
Other members represent the so
the good Of the community as a
whole should be put above the claims
OF any individual, and that sacrifice,
even IL a life. Ia iustifiable.
No testimony was taken today.
That was postponed to tomorrow
afternoon.
The verdict of tho jury whether It
condemns or Absolves from blame DR..
Haiseldin. who. with the consent OF
the baby's parents. allowed 1t to die
by refusing to perform a simple oper-
markable In the history of coroner's
Inquiries 1t will be the first in which
the right Of doctor to take or save
life at discretion ever has been pass
ed upon.
Coroner's Statement.
IT am selecting this jury OF experts
and ordering the inquest" said the
coroner, mot to find fault with or to
criticize anyone. But we do not know
Just how soon another such child
may be born, or some physician be
SdlieQ upOH u uCNidc WHckhCI VT tVt
life or death Is better for another
patient
IT am acting for the benefit of man
kind and the advancement OF the
science OF medicine.
II maintain that we must profit
by the sad experience OF others. and
this ID one which. perhaps. will be
OF more service to mankind than any
that ever came up in this ONCE. In
the more than nfty-f1ve thousand
cases which have come before me
since came into this Office. this prob |
lem as to whether or not a physician
shall decide on life or death never
came up before"
The case continued today to be the !
main topic OF conversation through
out the city. Criminal prosecution
was asked Of the States Attorneys
ONCE. but II was understood that the
once would take no action until AFTER
the report Of the coroner's Jury.
Mrs Rollinger, who 10 still weak
and III at the hospital. was not told
of the baby's death until this morn
inR. s.
"You have something to tell ma"
she said calmly to Head Nurse Freed.
Continues on Second )Pa&s>
! ts.45 Norfolk and return, via N. 4
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