Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
DR.. Edgar A. Bocock Dis
claims Responsibility for
Death of Court Patient.
TREATMENT AND SURGERY
DEFENDED BY OFFICIAL
Kathryn B. Sellers, Juvenile Magis-
trate, to Send No More
Wards There.

Replying to criticism of Gallinger
Municipal Hospital by Judge Kathryn
B. Sellers of the Juvenile Court be-
cause woman whom she had per-
suaded to go there. for a physical test
died after an operation, DR.. Edgar A..
Bocock, Gallinger superintendent, yes
terday denied any responsibility on the
part of the hospital for the patients
death.
The death Of the woman, Mrs. Char
lotte Nettie Thompson, q, widowed
mother of two children, caused Judge
Sellers to issue orders that no more
wards of the Juvenile Court shall be
ment. Judge Sellers reiterated her de-
termination yesterday to stand by her
decision.
DR.. Bocock said yesterday he would
forward a report on the case of Mrs.
Thompson which was requested by
James S. Wilson. director of the Board
of Public Welfare, also said to be under
criticism by Judge Sellers for refusing
the woman a mothers pension. He
to conduct an official investigation of
Mrs. Thompsons death because the
facts in the case do not warrant it.
Gives Report.
In a statement issued for The Star
yesterday, DR.. Bocock said:
Mrs. Thompson was admitted to
Gallinger Municipal Hospital at sos
o'clock on July II for examination and
treatment. During the following week
she received such professional studies
laboratory examinations, etc, as were
necessary to arrive at a correct dag
nosiS of her condition. She was found
to require surgical treatment, and was
operated upon on July "a by a regular
member of the visiting staff OF the hos
pital.
1.-The operation, for the cure Of q
ong-standing condition, known to be
pre-cancerous, was of average gravity.
but the patient did not react satisfac-
torily therefrom. She received every
possible form Of indicated post-opera-
tive treatment. including TRANSMISSION,
etc, but in spite of all this she passed
away on July 25. Post-mortem exam
nation revealed complication of con-
ditions as cause of death.
Unfortunate as was the outcome. this
case received every indicated examina-
ton and the best of treatment both be-
fore, during and after the operation
and her death cannot be attributed to
neglect or lack of attention on the part
of any one"
Officials at the hospital said that Mrs.
Thompson had shown no reluctance to
submit to laboratory tests and willingly
consented to the operation which was
regarded necessary.
Appealed for Pension.
Mrs. Thompson had made an unSuc-
cessful request upon the Board Of Pub
lie Welfare for a mothers pension OF
$40 a week, on the ground that she was
able to work. She appealed TO Judge
Sellers, asking that her two children be
committed to the care of the board, ex-
planning that she could not support
them.
Judge Sellers had her case under con-
sheraton for some time and said she
believed the woman was entitled to
pension. She issued temporary COM
mitment order and finally persuaded the
mother to undergo examination at Gal
linger, oStensibly for metabolism test,
as the Board of Public Welfare wished
her to do. SO as to determine whether
she was able physically to provide for
their support.
A preliminary examination, Judge
Sellers said, indicated low blood pres
sure and she Is not satisfied that she
should have been subjected to an opera
ton in that condition. At Gallinger
Hospital, it was claimed that Mrs.
Thompson would not have been operat-
ed upon If her blood pressure was such
as to make an operation inadvisable or
dangerous.
Mr. Wilson, who called for report on
the woman's death, expressed surprise
that Judge Sellers should have criticized
the hospital.
Although Judge Sellers has said she
would not send any more wards OF her
court to Gallinger Hospital, it was said
there yesterday that the hospital then
was preparing to receive a case from the
Juvenile Court. Whether the patient
had been ordered sent to the hospital
before Judge Sellers made her decision
was not known.
Judge Sellers said there are num-
her of the courts wards who have re-
covered from minor operations ana tnat
She will warn parents to administer re-
lief at home instead Of sending them
to Gallinger.