Kelley v. Roger Givens Wholesale Millwork

1 In this case it appears from the claim for compensation filed by petitioner Joe A. Kelley and the evidence offered in support thereof that on the 11th day of February, 1953, while in the employ of respondent, Roger Givens Wholesale Millwork, he sustained an accidental injury consisting of an injury to his hand causing permanent disability to the hand. The injury occurred while he was working at respondents mill when his hand was caught in a motor machine. He was furnished medical treatment for the injury by respondent and entered a hospital for surgery on June 1, 1953. Three different operations were performed on the hand. He was given bone graft and skin and tendon graft. He thereafter and on about April 1, 1954, developed yellow jaundice and it was impossible for the doctors to complete the skin graft on his hand as long as this condition existed. The doctors advised an exploratory operation of the abdomen of petitioner in order to locate the cause of the disease. Petitioner refused to submit to the operation on the ground that he was afraid it would result in his death. He thereafter consulted a physician of his own selection who advised him that surgery was not called for and that his jaundice condition could be cured by medical treatment and that it could be cured in about six weeks.