The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-25
DEFECTIVE BABY
ALLOWED TODIE
H. j. Haiselden, NJ. D., of Ger.
man-American Hospital,
Chicago, Defends Action.

CHICAGO, July 24.--Baby Meter, al
lowed to die by DR.. II. ]. Haiselden
because OF physical and mental infirmi-
ties. died this afternoon. Just twenty
four hours after IL was born. An inves-
tigation was started at once by the
Health Commission, despite an an
nouneement by States Attorney Hoyne
that there was nothing criminal in the
doctors action.
81 can see absolutely nothing criminal
In the attitude of Dr. Haiselden toward
the Meter baby. Certainly from all 1
can learn Of the case there is no basis
for prosecution" said Mr.. Hoyne.
DR.. Robertson. Health Commissioner,
sent detectives to the German-American
Hospital. They met DIR. Haiselden and
we're assured everything possible was
being done for the Meter baby. 1t was
learned two other babies were being per-
mitted to die. The information came
from DR.. Haiselden himself.
There are two other hopeless babies
under my treatment and they too are
being permitted to die. suppose the
authorities would raise a great disturb
ance IL they knew I had three cases in
all
But, as with the Meter baby. there
was no suffering. The Meter baby was
brought to me from West Pullman yes
terday few hours after II was born.
It's father is less than 21 years old. Its
mother is 20 years old. Its grand
mother. who by the way became a
mother Just eleven days ago. is the
mother of twelve children, only one of
whom Is dead.
Infant Had Practically No Neck.
when saw the baby knew it had
lived too long already. The brain was
extremely small and there was no nor
NAL skull formation. The head rested
on the shoulders and there was practi-
cally no neck. The ears were deformed
and there we're other deformitles.
THE case was absolutely hopeless
The life could have been saved. but
what a life II would have been The
child would have grown into hopeless
idiot. perhaps just able to eat. II would
have been a burden to it's parents and
the State.
~ performed a slight operation to
stop certain bleeding. Then called in
committee OF doctors. All but one
agreed with me. The parents already
had given me permission TO do what 1
thought best.
80 | simply went over the slight op-
eratiOn 4 hdu performed ana the DaDy
was left as she was brought TO me. It's
death was only matter Of a few hours
and there was no suffering.
Baby Meters condition may have
been the result OF a fright suffered by
the mother before the baby was born.
Half a year before the little one came
into the world the mother witnessed an
accident in which a man was mutilated.
But this is incidental. II may interest
those physicians who have held this sort
Of thing impossible.
He Won't Operate on Others.
The FIRST cf the other babies is five
months old, born to a family named
Mattys. II was brought here a month
ago. paralyzed and with the head in
curably affected.
by operating l could have prolonged
life for a year or so ; any way, for a
number OF months. But such things are
strain on the family and eventually
would be a strain on the State. So ]
did not operate. ] explained to the
parents and they are willing for their
child to wait for death.
'The third baby Is Paul Hadzima
Paul Is three months old The head Ia
misshapen and defective and there is a
malady that makes breathing an agony
for the infant. am prescribing enough
paregoric to keep II drugged until death
ends its suffering In doing this I feel
am doing the greatest service to HUI
manity. II is better than experimenting
with knife for my own satisfaction"