100 years ago in Spokane County: Staff quits sanatorium over allegations of doctor’s ‘unprofessional’ behavior

A crisis was developing at the county’s Edgecliff Tuberculosis Sanatorium, the Spokane Daily Chronicle reported.

Seven of the 12 nurses abruptly resigned, along with nursing superintendent Margaret Hillary. The next day, Dr. E.A. Stuht, county physician and the sanatorium’s medical adviser, also resigned in sympathy with the nurses.

The trouble appeared to have grown out of “unsatisfactory relations” between the hospital staff and the “house doctor,” Dr. J.L. Newman. Newman had been in that position for seven months, but evidently he lacked the support of the nurses – and even the patients. The nurses circulated a petition opposing the retention of Newman as house doctor. Nearly all of the 130 patients signed the petition.

Hillary, representing the nurses, said they felt that they “could not remain in an institution conducted in an unprofessional manner.”

Newman did not comment on the controversy, but Stuht said he concurred with the nurses and “that explains my resignation.”

The staff was asking for an investigation of conditions at the sanatorium, and one county commissioner was in favor of the idea. Another commissioner said tersely, “There will be no investigation. The resignations have been accepted.”