Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-02-03 | Page 24 | Woman Dies While Doctors Shun Call

WOU DIES WHILE DBCT0O1 CALL ; Physicians Refuse Charity i Visit; Delay Is Fatal, Police Are Told. Tliat from a dozen to fifteen doctors j wore asked by teW-nhonc to po to the ' bedside of a dying woman, the mother of j tpri children, and that all refused except ! the last called, is, according to the police, i the statement of Mrs. James Ellison, 932 Kast Court street. According to Dr. W. S. Keytinsr of the emergency hospital, the one doctor who thought more of his profession than he did of dollars, is Dr. C. M. Chandler, hut unfortunately, while he responded instantly in-stantly upon beinp railed, he, found only the dead body of the unfortunate mother of ten when he arrived at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers. 922 East Court street. He had been called too late. - According to the police. Mrs. Rogers, who was 47 yearn old and lived at the address given with four of her children, had been sick for some time. Neighbors had rendered her such assistance as they could. When she appeared to be growing wov.se, Mr. and M i s. Ellison decided to call a doctor and ask him to attend the woman. When he learned the husband ; was not with the fiimily and that his1 fpe was not guaranteed, he declined to re- ! spond, they say. A dozen others were i called in u,ulck succession, but, for the j same reason, all refused to come, the couple assert. Finally, Dr. Chandler was thought of and a call sent for him. He 1 responded at once, but the grim reaper ! had reached the scene a few moments I before. j "It is Impossible to make a diagnosis tin a body," said Dr. Chandler last night, "but I think it likely she may have died of heart trouble.- superinduced by some other disease. She was dead when I ar-j ar-j rived, although I went as soon aa I re-I re-I reived the call. They told me at the ! house that several physicians had been asked to see Mrs. Rogers, but that none would come." The police state that nothing can be done in such cases to compel physicians to respond to calls. Previous experiences experi-ences have shown there is nothing In the laws of Utah which makes it imperative upon a doctor to answer a call if lie thinks the patient penniless and fears he will not receive his fee.