[sharrie]

Originally Posted by ocankhe

This incident took place in Germany and I wonder if they have the same saety protocols that we have in this country. Surgeons signing the site of surgery pre-op, taking a time out before surgery to verify identity and type of surgery with the patient, etc. We must be cautious not to take shortcuts with all these safety proceedures less we to find ourselves involved in a situation as described above. Prevention of wrong site/proceedures also does save all of significant dollars.

I am sure that there are the same types of pre-op checks done in Germany (as with most other countries) as there are in the US, as you say it's when shortcuts are taken that mistakes happen.

[banditrn]

This is just terrible!! Any type of anal surgery has got to hurt, and to go thru that when you don't even need it is the pits. Hope she gets compensated well!!

[TiredMD]

Impressive that this kind of mistake could occur. Removing the wrong kidey is one thing, I understand how that kind of mistake could happen (though we always hang up the films in the OR, which pretty much elimiates the chance of operating on the wrong side as long as you can see both in the CT/MRI).

But this case is amazing.

1) A "leg operation" was probably being done by an Orthopod or Vascular. A new anus is likely done by GI or Colorectal Surgery. This means the surgeon didn't recognize their own patient, since it's unlikely they were both being cared for by the same doctor.

2) Anesthesia either didn't know what case was being done or what the name of the patient was.

3) No one talked to the patient preop about what case was being done.

4) No one noticed that there was nothing pathologically wrong with the GI tract during the surgery.

Amazing confluence of events. Kudos to all involved for the monumental screwup.

[bollweevil]

Originally Posted by jlsRN

Germans are known to be extremely meticulous people with highly regulated lives. I'm sure they had similar safety checks in place!

That is quite a stereotype, JLS. Perhaps not all of us Germans are quite that way. Lots of us are but perhaps some aren't. We must never assume that someone of a particular nationality or whatever group is this way or that, I think. Rather, we should try to deal with individuals, I think. Anyway, thanks for the comploiment.

[KG21121]

The lawyer will no doubt have an easy time!!! Too bad this thing happens...

Res Ipsa Loquitur

[Diary/Dairy]

Originally Posted by CHATSDALE

i bet that lawyer is grinning from ear to ear

Like a Cheshire Cat!

[cheshirecat]

Who is taking my name in vain??? meow, meow

[starbin]

One evening, I rushed myself to the emergency room with a 103 fever and productive cough. After waiting for 6 hours in the emergency room, and not having seen any doctor yet (a triage nurse had asked me why I was there and took my vitals, and the billing department had my insurance info and ID copied immediately after I saw the triage nurse), I was approached by an x-ray technician. He said, "Ok mam, lets go, we need to do an X-ray of your knees. Do you need a wheelchair?"
I was astonished and asked, "Who ordered the x-rays, I haven't been seen by any doctors yet?" He replied,"If you want to get things done soon, get the x-ray first and then the doctor will see you. He has already reviewed your papers." I asked him to show me the orders, and told him my knees were fine, and I came here with cough and fever not a knee problem. He looked very surprised, and said he will be right back.
I finally got my chest x-ray done, and got prescription for antibiotic and a cough syrup. the only time I saw the doctor was at time of discharge. He handed me the discharge note, and told me that i had acute bronchitis, and he gave me antibiotic for that.
My knees were about have bronchitis by then.

[Zookeeper3]

lets not forget about the not checking the consent or looking at an arm band

Originally Posted by TiredMD

Impressive that this kind of mistake could occur. Removing the wrong kidey is one thing, I understand how that kind of mistake could happen (though we always hang up the films in the OR, which pretty much elimiates the chance of operating on the wrong side as long as you can see both in the CT/MRI).

But this case is amazing.

1) A "leg operation" was probably being done by an Orthopod or Vascular. A new anus is likely done by GI or Colorectal Surgery. This means the surgeon didn't recognize their own patient, since it's unlikely they were both being cared for by the same doctor.

2) Anesthesia either didn't know what case was being done or what the name of the patient was.

3) No one talked to the patient preop about what case was being done.

4) No one noticed that there was nothing pathologically wrong with the GI tract during the surgery.

Amazing confluence of events. Kudos to all involved for the monumental screwup.

[babiesRmylife]

Boy. . .sure makes you scared to go into an OR. Too much of this is happening these days. What's the deal? Seriously! Thats quite a big mix up.