§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the inquest on Arthur Thomas Payne, who died on Wednesday, 31st May, in King's College Hospital during an operation under chloroform, when it was proved that the deceased was a minor; that his mother had given her consent to the operation, with the proviso that the Hospital Authorities should notify her of the date of the operation; and that no such notice was given to the mother; and whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to require the authorities of King's College and other hospitals to give notice to parents of patients who are minors, when operations, involving risk of a fatal result, are decided upon?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am informed by the Secretary to the Governing Body of King's College Hospital that the young man referred to was 20 years of age; that soon after his admission, on the 14th of March, his mother was informed that an operation would be requisite, and that she gave her consent without qualification and without any such proviso as is alleged. There does not, so far as I know, appear to be any sufficient ground for legislation of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend.