Posted on 11/27/2007 7:56:35 AM PST by laotzu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. Rhode Island Hospital has been fined $50,000 and reprimanded by the state Department of Health after its third instance this year of a doctor performing brain surgery in the wrong side of a patient's head.
"We are extremely concerned about this continuing pattern," health department director David R. Gifford said in a statement Monday.
The hospital issued a statement saying it was re-evaluating its training and policies, providing more oversight, giving nursing staff the power to ensure procedures are followed, among other steps.
The most recent case happened Friday when the chief resident started operating on the wrong side of an 82-year-old patient's brain, the health department said. The patient was OK, the health department and hospital said.
In February, a different doctor performed neurosurgery on the wrong side of another patient's head, said Andrea Bagnall-Degos, a health department spokeswoman. That patient was also OK, she said.
In August, however, a patient died a few weeks after a third doctor operated on the wrong side of his brain. The death prompted the state to order the hospital to take a series of steps to ensure such a mistake would not happen again, including an independent review of its neurosurgery practices and better verification from doctors of surgery plans.
The hospital is owned by Lifespan, a not-for-profit corporation. It serves as a teaching hospital for Brown University.
Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty!!
I mean it’s not brain surgery we’re talking about here....oh wait.....nevermind.
YA THINK?????
They are probably going to have to reorganize the Yregrusoruen Department...
Holy magic markers, Batman, how can they correct this?
Sounds like a “Teaching English hospital”
Maybe a fine will teach them not to cut before measuring twice.
A dyslexic neurosurgeon?
I wonder if they are putting x-rays up on the viewer backwards. It does sound like they need to shake up the department, and perhaps launch a complete audit to see if the problem exists in other departments.
Ahh...but then wouldn't he be protected by the American's w/ Disabilities Act?
or a dyslexic nurse (like my wife!)?
No!! It's pronounced 'lexdyscic'.
Blue marker on the site of surgery. I thought every hospital did this. (And ask patient to point to correct side, BEFORE anesthsia...) This isn’t rocket science. Good grief!
Thank goodness for affirmative action and diversity programs when selecting our doctors - we wouldnt want the stupid people to feel discriminated against.
Next time you go into a hospital make sure to see a doctor who got there because of the diversity initiative - it will make you feel better about yourself even if you dont survive the treatment.
LOL! Problem is when I need to remember that, I can never get it....
What do they call the guy that graduated last in his class at medical school?
. . . . Doctor.
Where is Dr. House when we really need him.
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