Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-11
The Gallinger Investigation.

AS the Board of Public Welfare was
investigating itself when it investigated
Gallinger, it's report generating the
hospital of the rather indefinite charges
implied in criticism of the institution
will be accepted in prejudiced minds as
a "whitewash." But the Board of
Public Welfare has been wise enough
to foresee this and fair enough to in
vite another investigation by disin-
terested committee composed of rep
resentatives of the medical branches of
the Army and Navy. the Public Health
Service and st. Elizabeth's Hospital.
Such an investigation may be helpful
to the Board of Public Welfare and
may result in suggestions for irnprov-
ing the service rendered the municipal
ity by Gallinger. AS the aim of all con-
cerned Is to remedy any faults that
may be found at Gallinger, and not to
give it a reputation as house of hor-
rors, this second investigation may be
valuable.
The Board of Public Welfare's own
report on its investigation at Gallinger
reaches conclusions that were antici-
pated by those who followed the nature
of testimony introduced during the
hearings. The most serious charges
were those made against the hospital
by Judge Sellers of Juvenile Court. AS
Judge Sellers could not qualify as an
expert witness regarding medical pro-
cedure and as she declined to testify
on the ground that what she had to say
would be hearsay evidence, her criti-
cisn was confined to her publicly an
nounced refusal to commit any more
charges to Gallinger and to her letter
to the board.
In connection with Judge Sellers
letter, the Board of Public Welfare
could do nothing but develop in a pub
lie hearing the hospitals side of the
story. This it did. The facts indicate
that the death of the patient in ques-
ton was due to circumstances which
could and should have been prevented
If any one could be held responsible
the Board of Public Welfare would be
anxious to fix the blame. Unfortunate
~, similar tragedies are written in
every hospital. 1t is not always posi-
BILE to hold any one person responsible.
If Judge Sellers or any other critic
can suggest further action in this case,
the Board of Public Welfare would
naturally welcome the suggestion.
Now that much of the smoke and
dust raised over Gallinger has settled,
temporarily at least, and the public is
satisfied that razor blades are not fed
the patients as a staple diet, Judge
Sellers can render a real public service
by using her position in cooperation
with the board to remedy any faults
that may exist at the hospital and to
improve the necessary service that the
institution renders the city. Judge Sell
ers is in a position to know and to hear
complaints. Her refusal to send any
charges to Gallinger will not be of
material benefit to Gallinger nor to
the municipality. If she can assist the
Board of Public Welfare by helping to
run down and to investigate complaints
against the hospital, she should do SO.
If conditions at the hospital are so
bad that she cannot accept RESPONSE
bility for sending cases there, her duty
to the municipality is to prove the ex-
istence of such conditions. If such
proof is lacking Gallinger must be
freed from the stigma that Judge Sellers
has placed upon it. No doubts should
be allowed to remain in anybody's mind
concerning Gallinger, which is munic-
ipal institution, paid for and supported
by the municipality.