Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1953-01-30
ny ALFRED MAUND

ny ALFRED MAUND
10 On March o. 1861. Mrs. En-
ma Dangerfield. critically m, was
brought 10 Jefferson-HIlimAn Hos
pitai In Birmingham. Alabama.
Her Negro doctor. not allowed 10
practice there. had made arrange
ments with n white doctor 10 meet
her. Both physicians Understood
there was a bed available. Her
husband brought money for nd.
mission fees and the patient had
insurance.
But, then began a series OF
tragic happenings" 10 quote the
Birmingham News Of March 20.
The husband was informed
that no must make q cash deposit
Of 800 before his wife could be
admitted. lie had $50 In cash
with him, but was told no must
produce $50 more. He called his
employer. explained the situation.
The concern Informed ths hospital
that II would stand good for the
second $50 and that a check for
that amount would BE- delivered 10
the hospital the next morning.
Nevertheless tho patient was
refused Rdmittance. II was the
understanding Of her doctors, Of
her husband and 10 her friend that
she was refused because her hus-
band could not produce 500 In
cash at tho moment"
After lying In the stretoher for
over two hours, the patient was
put back In the ambulance and
taken homo. Her husband was told
10 bring her back 20 the hospital
the next morning when he was 10
have 800 IN cash.
THE patient was never return.
cd 20 the hospital She died at ap.
proximately 3 o'clock the same
night 49,. little more than an
hour after being returned 60 her
home"
The News interviewed the hos.
pital administrator.
He made the point tho Jeffar-
Ron-HillmRn already had unpaid
accounts ON Ita books OF more
than $500, 900 and Il does not wish
that sum 20 be enlarged II II can
help a."
lie denied that there was q bed
available for Mrs. pangerfield.
There's" he says. - limit to all
things -. There are approx.
mately i7B beds for Negroes 4.
OF that number, ~ are for private
pay patients, on -. tho day In
question, (he) indicates there
were ~ private Negro patients In
the space normally taken by a."
The News reporter apparently
did not think 10 ask II there were
any beds available IN the white
wards "on the day In question"
II. In October, 1851. Mrs slnla
Donaldson of Memphis. Tenn,
was sent home by John CASTOR
Hospital after a doctor there had
informed her she was "in the
early stages Of labor" She didn't
even have time 10 reach her bed.
ON the front porch Of her home
she gave birth 10 twins. ono of
which died Of strangulation by
umblllcal cord II was three hours
before help arrived from tho hos.
pltAl. THIS was the bitter fruit Of
= policy by the City.owned lnsti.
tuition which DEGREES that Negro
maternity cases be only treated
~ out-paticnts.
Indeed. Lawrence Dean, the hos.
pltal administrator. was anything
hut contritc about the incident,
she disrrgRrded previous In
structiona by coming 90 the hos.
pltal." he declared. "She had been
told that her baby would be de.
hvered at home and that when the
time came she was to cali for a
homo delivery team at the hos.
pital There IL no indication OF
medical negligence" (sourccs'
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
October o. 1891; Associated Ne.
gro PresA)
II, On November 10. 1891. Ro-
bert Dorsey Smith was struck
down by an automobile In Gal.
weston. Texas, He was taken TO
John Seaiy Hospital. q unit OF the
School OF Medicine Of the univer-
sity Of Texas.
After examination and treat
ment. Smith was discharged. al
though he was unable ''to get
fully dressed" when he left-hls
shoes and wallet were later found
In the hospital The police started
70 drive him home but halfway
there they let him off with about
nine blocks 60 walk. Early the
next morning he was found dead
In an alley not far from where he
had got out OF the police car his