Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-05
JUDGE MAKES NEW
|. CHALLENGE IN NOTE
IN GALL|NGER CASE
Kathryn Sellers Denies Doc
tors Right to Operate With
out Patients Consent.
DECLINES TO APPEAR
IN PERSON TO TESTIFY
Jurist Cites Instances in Which
She Has Been Interested, in
Note to Board.

The authority of Gallinger Hospital
physicians TO perform operations on city
patients without their consent or the
consent of persons known to be inter-
ested in them was challenged today by
Judge Katheryn Sellers of the Juvenile
Court in her written reply to an invita-
ton of the Board of Welfare to testify
regarding charges she made about con-
ditions in the hospital.
Judge Sellers referred specifically to
the case of Mrs. Nettie B. Thompson,
who died at the hospital following a
minor operation.
Declining to appear before the board,
Judge Sellers delivered her letter to W.
w. Millen, vice chairman of the board,
in which she expressed her views re-
garding treatment given patients and
her disapproval of methods there.
Questions Thompson Case.
Referring in her letter to the death
of Mrs. Thompson, Judge Sellers as
sumed responsibility for the confine-
ment of the woman to the institution,
but declared she questioned the advis-
ability of conducting the operation and
the authority of its performance with
out consent.
Regarding Mrs. Thompson's objec-
ton TO treatment, her final persuasion
to be sent to Gallinger and the opera
ton, Judge Sellers said:
Mrs. Thompson strenuously object
ed to going to the psychopathic ward
Of Gallinger Hospital. 1 agreed with
her that she was perfectly right in re-
fuslng to go to the psychopathic ward.
Mrs. r. r. Miller of the child welfare
division. Board OF Public Welfare, made
the suggestion that Mrs. Thompson be
entered in the news medical ward at
Gallinger Hospital, where she could
have complete physical examination.
MRS. Thompson objected strenuously to
going TO the hospital at all. maintain
ing that she was not i'll and that she
was afraid to go to the hospital.
Persuaded Her to Go.
"It was with great difficulty that
persuaded her to go to Gallinger Hos
pltal for week, with every assurance
on my part that nothing would be done
to her except to give her complete
physical examination, including met
aolism test. She reminded me plain.
lively that the complete physical exam
ination had already been made at the
George Washington University Hospi-
tai. If I remember correctly, used
about these words: Mrs. Thompson, I
am your friend, and 1 have thought all
along that you ought to have mothers
pension, but if you ever get this pen
sion, you will have to submit to every
condition laid down by the mothers
pension division of the Board of Public
Welfare" After some time she finally
said: We'll, judge, I will go to this
hospital for you" knowing Mrs.
Thompson, and her fear of the
hospital. cannot believe that she con-
sented willingly to any operation.
within the week she was dead. To
one not particularly endowed with the
gift of insight into medical practice, it
would seem that inasmuch as this un-
fortunate mother died as a result Of
the operation, that even the practition-
ers who performed the operation would
be of the opinion that the operation
in the light of the result. should not
have been performed. Many questions
occur to me-what official at Gallinger
Hospital makes the decision as to
whether a poor person is to be oper-
ated on? Is this operation the result
of a conference? Is it customary to
operate upon poor people without their
consent or the consent of persons in
terested in them? Was it necessary for
Mrs. Thompsons immediate recovery?
Was she in danger of dying if time was
not taken for consultation with her
friends? Is patient who is so i'll that
an operation must be performed capable
of knowing what she is doing when
she gives her consent to an operation?
What was this operation performed
upon Mrs. Thompson? Was it an
operation in which a hemorrhage is
likely to occur? What was Mrs.
Thompson's blood pressure? Is it GUS
tomary TO operate upon a person who
has low blood pressure? Just why was
time9 oe some of nPG these @ onesti6ns ns sio Being
a matter. of opinion, physicians not con-
nected with the hospital might properly
be heard"
Recalls Friends Case.
The failure of Gallinger Hospital at
tendants to allow an intimate friend
of Judge Sellers to communicate with
the magistrate. after she was taken to
the institution from a train suffering
from the effects of a drug. in spite of
the fact that she was a probation Of
ficer of Detroit and possessed special
police authority, led Judge Sellers to
comment in her letter on the possibility
OF persons being confined in hospitals
without being allowed to summon
friends. She said:
Il regret exceedingly that I should
have mentioned the third case, because
it may bring unpleasant notoriety To
my friend. Upon receipt of a telegram
from her superior officer in Detroit. I
sent Miss Ezekiels to the hospital and
my friend was released Miss Ezekiels.
I understand. signed required paper
assuming responsibility for my friend
THE great point in this case was that
my friend should have asked for me
almost Immediately and repeatedly
without avail. It raises the fear In the
minds of many that great hospitals may
be ports of missing persons, where men,
women, boys and girls may call In vain
for those who would seek to protect
them
Discussing at previous date the
ordering Of children and poor persons
to the hospital. Judge Sellers declared