The alleged malpractice suit of Walsh vs. Sayre.

  • Sayre, Lewis A. (Lewis Albert), 1820-1900.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The alleged malpractice suit of Walsh vs. Sayre. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    Dartmouth Medical College, ) Hanover, N. H., July 2d, 1860. ( Prof. Lewis A. Sayre : My Dear Sir,—I take the liberty of addressing you at this time, to offer you my hearty congratula- tions on the result of the recent suit instigated against you for malpractice. Your triumphant vindication is not only a source of gratification to your numerous friends, but is an actual benefit conferred upon the profession whose battle you have fought while defending your own reputation from assault. If the simple opening of an abscess is to render a surgeon liable to a suit of this character, the practice of surgery becomes too expensive a luxury for men of moderate means to indulge in. The result in your case showed conclusively that the public do not propose to assassinate surgeons in any such way. I am impressed with the fact that this suit has established some legal points of the highest importance to the profession. It is worth the while to know that a Court can, and will order an examination of the patient by a board of unprejudiced surgical experts at the time the case comes into court. It is even more satisfac- tory to know that a groundless suit, instigated by malice, cannot be undertaken with impunity, but that the plaintiff, as in your case, may be properly punished by the infliction of extra and unusual costs upon him by the Court. If our Courts could go a step farther and inflict any well merited punishment on the persons who instigated such suits, we should be well advanced toward the millenium of surgery. I am glad to know that you have passed so triumphantly through this annoying ordeal. Will you not now publish the evidence in your case, and thus bring to the knowledge of the profession and the public the valuable points made in the trial of the suit. Trusting that you may do this as a labor of love to the pro- fession, if for no other reason, I am with great respect, your friend and servant, DIXI CROSBY.