Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 03 June 1932
Doctor’s Error
Kilnhurst Man’s Death Wrongly Certified
Due To Seizure
Mr. J. Kenyon Parker, the Sheffield District Coroner, held all inquest on Tuesday on George Steel (72) 18, Hicks Square, Kilnhurst, who was found dead in bed on Sunday. “He was a man of 72, and apparently had sonic bronchitis,” said the Coroner. “He was up and about his work of calling up people on Sunday morning and at 5-15 he was talking to a neighbour and seemed well. At 8 o’clock his grand-daughter found him in bed and dead; less than three hours after talking with his neighbour. The relatives were called, and they brought in the police and doctor.”
“If Dr. Aitken had communicated with the police and sent a note to me, I cannot help thinking lie would have been better advised. Instead of that, he told the relatives to go Ito the surgery and. he would give a death certificate. They went and received a certificate that the doctor was in medical attendance during the man’s Inst illness, and that he died by influenza and heart failure. In fact, Dr. Aitken had not attended the man for a considerable time except by supplying a bottle of medicine at the surgery the previous Monday. Then his patient was found dead In bed, having died suddenly. I think the doctor made a mistake in giving that certificate; he was mistaken in taking the view that be had attended in the last illness, and I cannot see any evidence of influenza or heart failure. The post-mortem examination showed that death was due to natural “uses but entirely different to those stated by Dr:Aitken, namely, cerebral hemorrhage. My verdict will be in accordance.”
Harold Pond, miner, 17, Hicks Square, Kilnhurst, said he had been Steel’s neighbour for many years and was the last person to see him alive. On Sunday, about 5-15 , a.m.. Steel went into his (witness’s) home and spoke to him. “He was chatting to me for about five minutes and seemed as well as. I have ever known him. He had knocked me up at 4-45 and then gone to knock up several other men.”
Steel’s grand-daughter, Edith Emma Dixon, said she and two other grand-children had lived with Steel for several years. Her grand-father was a collier until 1918, and since then had the job of knocking up other colliers in his neighbourhood. Recently he had suffered front bronchitis. “He seemed all right when he went to bed about 11 o’clock on Saturday night. About 8 o’clock next morning I did not receive a call from and when I went into his room I found him lying on his right side, and I could not wake him. I went and fetched Mr. Pond and my mother.”
Pond, recalled, gave evidence of being called to the house by the last witness. He was present when Dr. Aitken made an examination. The doctor told him that Steel had been suffering from influenza.
The Coroner: Was anything said about a certificate?—The doctor said that if the Lenin-law went to his surgery he would give him one. He told hint to be there at 9-30.
The Coroner: I was only wanting to know.
To P.c. Kirk: Who reported the death to you ?—lt was left at my house between 9-30 and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
You knew nothing about this certificate business then?—No.
Benj. Dixon, 21, Hicks Square, Kilnhurst, son-in-law to Steel, told the Coroner that Dr. Aitken issued a death certificate to him at 10 a.m. on Sunday. It was in an envelope addressed to Mr. Harrison, the registrar. He posted it at Kilnhurst.
The Coroner (to Mr. Harrison, who was present): You received it? On Monday morning about 8 o’clock.
Witness added that he did not know what was on the certificate.
The Coroner: Did you tell P.c. Kirk that you had received and posted this certificate? —No.
Lucy Dixon, wife of the last witness, said a neighbour, Tom Squires, told her not to touch the body until the police and doctor arrived. “The doctor said there would be no fuss.” Witness added that she did not tell the police constable about the certificate because it had slipped her memory.
The Coroner (to P.c. Kirk): Have you spoken to Dr. Aitken about this?—Yes.
Has he said anything abqut the certificate? —No.
You thought you were inquiring into a sudden death uncertified?—Yes. I have seen Dr. Aitken and be told me he could not help me.
The Coroner: It is a funny thing.
Thomas Henry Harrison, 53, Sandygate, Wath, the registrar, produced the certificate of death from Dr. Aitken. which stated the cause of death to be influenza and heart failure.
The certificate says, “I was in medical attendance on the man during his last illness”? You know about that ?—Yes.
Why would you not register the death?— When I was registering, two women came into my office, and Dr. Aitken happened to be there. I heard him mention the police were in the case, and I immediately told the doctor I could not register the death if that was so.
P.c. Kirk said he did not call on Dr. Aitken on Sunday, because he thought it would be of little use.
The Coroner: You have told Dr. Aitken I that he could attend this inquest if he wished. and that I should be glad if he did attend ?—Yes.
The Coroner read a report of a post-mortem examination by Dr. S. O. Hatherley, of Swinton, which stated that all the organs were sound except the brain, where there was haemorrhage. The heart was perfectly normal and there were no signs of influenza. Death was solely due to cerebral haemorrhage.