Chap. 166.—An ACT to provide for the relief of Miss Ruby L. Garst. [S B 75]
Approved March 24, 1934

Whereas, Miss Ruby L. Garst was a pay patient at the University
Hospital, a State institution, located at Charlottesville, Virginia, on
August fourth, nineteen hundred and thirty-two, and on said fourth
day of August, nineteen hundred and thirty-two, while in the care and
treatment of said hospital, the attendants of said institution in the
preparation for the taking of an X-ray picture of the kidneys of the
said Miss Garst, injected sodium hydroxide into one of her kidneys
instead of sodium iodide which was the medicine intended, the purpose
of which was to make the kidneys show up under the X-ray, and after
the mistake was discovered and because of the growing seriousness of
Miss Garst’s condition it was found necessary to operate and remove
the poisoned kidney in order to save her life, which was not only pain-
ful and disfiguring but permanently injured her health and incapacitated
her so that she not only lost a summer term from college where she had
intended studying but also her income from teaching school for a
period of over six months; and

Whereas, said disfigurement, physical suffering and permanent se-
rious injuries were caused entirely by the negligence of said hospital
attendants without fault on the part of the said Miss Garst, and

Whereas, said Miss Garst is entitled to just compensation for the
injuries and damages sustained as aforesaid; now, therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That there
be, and is hereby appropriated out of any money to the University
Hospital at Charlottesville, the sum of four thousand dollars, payable
two thousand ($2,000.00) July first, nineteen hundred and thirty-four,
and a like sum on July first, nineteen hundred and thirty-five, to com-
pensate the said Miss Ruby L. Garst for her losses, injuries, disfigure-
ment and suffering as aforesaid; and that the Comptroller be, and he
is hereby, directed to draw his warrants upon said treasury for said
amounts in favor of the said Miss Ruby L. Garst at the times herein
provided.

2. This appropriation is made on account of the said Miss Garst
being a pay patient at a State hospital and institution, and there being
no relief for her against the State except by an appropriation of this
character.