Evening star., 1948-03-10
GuIIinqer
Continued From Nrst Page }

tlent. There will be no disciplinary
action against him"
Although DR.. Edier, who was on
the District payroll at the time, has
taken responsibility for admission
of the patient, pointing out that DR.
Blades merely confirmed his own
diagnosis, Mr.. Mason added:
Il would say there was no blame
on DR.. Ehier. either"
The Commissioners reversal o,
position came after he had read
four-page report by DR.. Marvin
on the case.
DR.. Marvin told reporters he never
had suggested to DR.. Blades that
he leave his Gallinger post. He
said he believed DR.. Blades would
not resign.
DR.. Marvin's Statement.
DR.. Marvin wrote to Commissioner
Mason:
Thank you for your courtesy in
giving me the opportunity to review
the case Of Mrs. Grace Allocca, the
report on which you based your
critical statements about DR.. Brian
Blades.
Il have gone over the report care
fully and checked it fully with men,
bers of the medical staff as well as
with others concerned. A review of
the case makes it apparent that you
had not received all the facts before
you made your statement. The per-
son or persons who prepared the re-
port for you did you a great dis
service. In accordance with our
understanding, I am herewith out
lining for you the data supporting
this position.
1T Is clear that DR.. Brian Blades,
professor of surgery at the George
Washington University school of
medicine, was not responsible for
the disqualification, !. at Gallinger
Hospital, of Mrs. Grace Allocca. ex-
cept that he concurred In the opin-
ion Of members Of the Gallingel
staff that Mrs. Allocca's case was
an emergency case.
Neither was DR.. Blades respon-
Sible for Mrs. Alloccas transfer to
the tuberculosis department of Gal
linger Hospital.
Facts Offered.
"The following are the facts that
you should have. In 1916 Mrs. Al
locca, as the wife Of a serviceman,
now veteran, was a patient at
Walter Reed Hospital. After some
preliminary treatment, she was
placed in the surgical department
of the hospital. DR.. Brian Blades
was asked by the Walter Reed staff
to operate on Mrs. Allocca for an
obstruction of the upper lobe of the
left lung. At this time, April, 1916,
DR.. Blades was member of the
George Washington University staff
He had just returned to civil life
from the Army, where he had been
chief OF the thoracic surgery section
at Walter Reed. DR.. Blades per-
formed the operation on Mrs. Al
locca. This operation was performed
as a courtesy to Walter Reed, and
no charge was made to her. Mrs.
Allocca was a little later discharged
from Walter Reed Hospital.
About Is months later Mrs.
Allocca contacted DR.. Donald B.
Emer, who had treated her at Wal
ter Reed Hospital and who had since
become associated with Gallineer
Hospital. DR.. Effler recommended
that Mrs. Allocca see DR.. Blades, be-
cause DR.. Blades had performed the
operation on her in April, 1916. DR..
Blades saw Mrs. Allocca and she was
admitted to The George Washing
ton University Hospital on August
10, 1947. She was examined and
given tests at the hospital and was
discharged on August 49,. 1947.
find that DR.. Blades did not charge
the patient fee for his services on
this occasion. I am informed that
Mrs. Allocca returned to Baltimore
and consulted physician there.
She wrote to DR.. Blades about re-
turning to the District for treat
ment, and he advised her that she
could be treated at Gallinger Hos
pital only If she became a resident
Of the District of Columbia.
Was Emergency Case.
"She did not become a resident
Of the District, but several months
later got in touch with DR.. Ef1er,
the physician who attended her at
Walter Reed Hospital and since had
become a member of the Gallinger
staff. His preliminary examination
caused him to believe that Mrs
Allocca should be hospitalized at
once.
"Dr. Effier consulted with DR.
Blades as to the emergency need
of hospitalizing Mrs. Allocca. DR.
Blades agreed with DR.. Effler that
Mrs. Allocca was an emergency case
Mrs. Allocca stated to DR.. En1el
and to the Gallinger admitting au.
thorities that she was not a resident
of the District. In spite of this
statement, the patient was admitted
to Gallinger Hospital on January
IS, 1948, upon the recommendation
of DR.. Ehler and DR.. Talmadge O,
the admitting office, who agreed
that Mrs. Allocca was a 'medica
Emergency" This statement ap.
pears in the report of Mrs. HANNAH
S. Norman, supervisor, Medical So.
cial Workers, which was made tt
Nv Condarerr1 dirncfnx ~ &hn l,>~