§ 20. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what medical treatment is being given to W. J. Bernasconi, a legless prisoner at Wandsworth, now suffering from an incurable disease.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeAn outside hospital familiar with Bernasconi's case and at which he has recently attended as an out-patient has been asked for advice on his treatment. I understand that the advice given is to the effect that no operative treatment is at present contemplated and that the case is one for palliation only. Bernasconi is under medical observation in the prison hospital and is receiving palliative treatment in the form of liniment as required. He is given an extra hot drink twice a day and is allowed a hot water bottle at night.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhile thanking the Home Secretary for taking action to ensure that some treatment was given tothis man after I wrote to him—not before—may I ask him to bear in mind that this man is suffering considerable pain, that he is afraid he will fall out of his wheel-chair at any moment and not be able to get himself back into it? Would it not, in all the circumstances, perhaps be better to allow this man to die at home?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI do not know that I take quite so gloomy a view as does the hon. and gallant Gentleman of the immediate future of this man, because he has been—as the hon. and gallant Gentleman probably knows—in attendance at St. Bartholomew's Hospital both before and since he came to prison and those at the hospital asked to see him again in a year's time. He is getting very good treatment in hospital, and he has not deteriorated physically in any way since he went to Wandsworth.