Man Catches Fire During Surgery

excite.com ^ | 4-18-2005 | Reuters

[Cagey]

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle police launched an investigation on Friday to determine how a patient undergoing emergency heart surgery caught on fire at a local hospital in 2003.

The male patient, who was not identified, went up in flames after alcohol poured on his skin was ignited by a surgical instrument.

The patient died after the surgery but that was due to heart failure and not the fire, said Dr. Robert Caplan, medical quality director of Virginia Mason.

Caplan said fires are known to occur in operating rooms although they were extremely rare.

The two-year-old incident became publicly known after an anonymous letter sent to the media mentioned it as a sign of unsafe health care at the hospital, and said the patient burned to death.

Caplan strongly disputed its contents. "That letter is factually incorrect," he said.

[NRA1995]

One of the nurses rubbed two scalpels together?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

The patient died after the surgery but that was due to heart failure and not the fire, said Dr. Robert Caplan, medical quality director of Virginia Mason.

And we should believe you on this doctor because...?

[silverleaf]

I thought the ER was a no-smoking area. D'oh!

And how would you like your heart surgery? Rare, medium, or well-done?

[Calpernia]

And now for something a little unusual

[WestTexasWend]

"The patient died after the surgery but that was due to heart failure and not the fire..."

Sure...and how did they put the fire out...by stomping on it?

[Wolfie]

The patient died after the surgery but that was due to heart failure and not the fire, said Dr. Robert Caplan, medical quality director of Virginia Mason.

Uh huh.

[mike182d]

Proof that even during a heart attack, things could always be worse...

[dc27]

Be very aware using low flashpoint solvents.

[CzarNicky]

And how would you like your heart surgery? Rare, medium, or well-done?

normally I'd say well done but in this case...

[pikachu]

And the worst part is that the hospital billed his estate and insurance for for a farewell BBQ

[secret garden]

It was most likely the Bovie knife, which cuts and cauterizes, depending on the settings.

[Larry Lucido]

Did the junior mint catch fire?

[eastforker]

Lets see, oxygen and low flash point flammable liquid, you don't need a spark.

[traderrob6]

I smell a lawsuit.

[ladtx]

Talk about heart-burn.

[daybreakcoming]

Think I will put off that ingrown toenail surgery until I can find a flame-retardant hospital gown.

[Cagey]

Hahahaha!

[Smokin' Joe]

Heartburn, no doubt.