Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-14
INQUIRY ORDERED
IN HOSPITALS BAR
AGAINST 3 CHILDREN
Continued From First Page,


where he was first taken by his father,
j. w. Goddett, 424 Tenth street south
west, because the inferno on duty
thought he had spinal meningitis.
In the case of Catherine Zanelotti.
who was taken Ill SUDDENLY yesterday
morning, neither Children'S nor Gal
linger would admit the child because,
according to officials of both institu-
tons, she was not an emergency case"
She was treated later at her home. 428
K street, by her family's physician, Dr.
Raphael N. Manganero of l4l2 MsSsa-
chuSettS avenue.
The transfer Of the Goddett boy was
defended today by both Supt B. B.
Sandidge Ct Emergency Hospital and
DR.. Frank Leech, chairman OF the
medical staff at Children's Hospital.
Sandidge explained there WIS no isola-
ton ward at Emergency and declared
the inferno who examined little Samuel
was justified in transferring him to
ChildrenS i'll view of his opinion that
the boy might be suffering from spinal
meningitis. DR.. Leech commended that
from the report of the examining ply
sician in the case there appeared to
be no emergency" The boy died al
Gallinger october 6, SO hours after
being admitted.
''Inasmuch as We only have a small
ward for children, and there was a be-
lief on the part OF the inferno that
the Goddett boy might have spinal
meningitis, said Sandidge, Il don't think
Emergency Hospital deserves any criti-
cism for its handling Of the case. Chill
dren's Hospital does Pave a contagious
ward and is especially equipped for
handling children, and that is where
hn hnN in
lance"
Action Held Justified.
DR.. Leech declared that as long as
there apparently was no emergency
Children's Hospital was justified in
sending the boy to Gallinger.
THE Board Of Public Welfare itself
has told us that II We admit such cases
We must stand the expense ourselves
Both the Welfare Board and the Com
munity Chest have refused to pay for
INDECENT cases that are not sent to the
Gallinger Municipal Hospital.
We are instructed to accept no cases
without permit, except emergency
ones. The Goddett boy apparently was
not an emergency case, according to
the findings of the examining physician.
He appeared to be in good shape when
brought in here, and under the We'll
fare Boards ruling, we sent him on to
Gallinger."
Cites Vacancy Notice. =.
DR.. Leech said that only few days
ago the Board of Welfare had notified
the hospital of "a vacant beds in Gal
linger and instructed the institution not
to accept any more cases until the beds
had been filled.
In the case of Eva Mae Dixon, who
died October 5, the delay in receiving
treatment was due to misunderstood
ing between the child's mother and au-
thorities at Garfield Hospital. When
the emergency room physician found
that the child was suffering with
whooping cough he called the Health
Department and was instructed to send
the child to the contagious ward at
Garfield. Instead of waiting for the
Health Departments contagious ambu-
lance, however, Mrs. Dixon rushed her
daughter to the hospital in a private
car, going to the main Office of the in
Stitution.
There she found no ARRANGEMENTS
had bsen made for admitting the child,
apparently due to failure of the con-
tagiouS ward to communicate with the
main Office, and was told to take her
daughter to Childrens Hospital, where
she was admitted She died shortly
thereafter. DR.. Lloyd Wademan, who
treated her at Children's Hospital, de-
clared her death was inevitable. as the
major portion of her body had been
burned and she had inhaled flames.
Would Be Guaranteed.
Director Wilson said authorities at
Sibley Hospital had taken the proper
course in removing the Dixon girl when
it was learned she was a contagious
case
If Sibley Hospital had kept the
case, under the law it would be liable
to quarantine, thus disrupting the
whole Institution. Also in the case of
the Goddett boy, had he been admitted
to Emergency or Children's Hospital
and later found to have spinal men,
nights, the hospital would necessarily
have to be quarantined.
However in all cases of emergency
Washington hospitals always give i'm
mediate treatment and ask questions
later. If there is any indication that
medical aid will bring relief 1t should
be administered by the examining
physician. Permits for the INDECENT in
all cases of emergency may be obtained
later"