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Hospital fined after 3rd wrong-side brain surgery this year
Houston Chronicle ^ | 11/21/07 | (not given)

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: brain; brainsurgery; hospital; medicalmistakes
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It serves as a teaching hospital.
1 posted on 11/27/2007 7:56:37 AM PST by laotzu
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To: laotzu

Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty!!


2 posted on 11/27/2007 7:58:23 AM PST by catman67
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To: laotzu

I mean it’s not brain surgery we’re talking about here....oh wait.....nevermind.


3 posted on 11/27/2007 7:59:48 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: laotzu
"We are extremely concerned about this continuing pattern,"

YA THINK?????

4 posted on 11/27/2007 8:00:43 AM PST by rockabyebaby (HEY JORGE, SHUT UP AND BUILD THE BLEEPING FENCE, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.)
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To: laotzu

They are probably going to have to reorganize the Yregrusoruen Department...


5 posted on 11/27/2007 8:01:22 AM PST by gridlock (Recycling is the new Religion.)
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To: laotzu

Holy magic markers, Batman, how can they correct this?


6 posted on 11/27/2007 8:02:13 AM PST by NonValueAdded (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: laotzu

Sounds like a “Teaching English hospital”


7 posted on 11/27/2007 8:02:16 AM PST by eleni121 (+ En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great)
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To: laotzu

Maybe a fine will teach them not to cut before measuring twice.


8 posted on 11/27/2007 8:05:09 AM PST by 17th Miss Regt
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To: laotzu

A dyslexic neurosurgeon?


9 posted on 11/27/2007 8:06:14 AM PST by NautiNurse (McClatchy News report: Half the nation's families earn below the median family income)
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To: laotzu

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.


10 posted on 11/27/2007 8:12:27 AM PST by PAR35
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To: NautiNurse
A dyslexic neurosurgeon?

Ahh...but then wouldn't he be protected by the American's w/ Disabilities Act?

11 posted on 11/27/2007 8:14:05 AM PST by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
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To: NautiNurse

or a dyslexic nurse (like my wife!)?


12 posted on 11/27/2007 8:14:20 AM PST by Seeking the truth (Queen Hillary faux postage stamps - 0cents.com)
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To: NautiNurse
A dyslexic neurosurgeon?

No!! It's pronounced 'lexdyscic'.

13 posted on 11/27/2007 8:19:01 AM PST by laotzu
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To: laotzu

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!


14 posted on 11/27/2007 8:21:35 AM PST by Libertina ("User Fees" are the taxes government charges citizens to use what they have previously paid for.)
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To: laotzu

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.


15 posted on 11/27/2007 8:22:00 AM PST by sasafras (All things evil are cloaked in the word diversity)
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To: catman67
"Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty!!"

LOL! Problem is when I need to remember that, I can never get it....

16 posted on 11/27/2007 8:23:04 AM PST by txzman (Jer 23:29)
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To: laotzu
Perhaps they need a new assistant in the neurosurgery department?


17 posted on 11/27/2007 8:24:59 AM PST by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: sasafras

What do they call the guy that graduated last in his class at medical school?

. . . . Doctor.


18 posted on 11/27/2007 8:25:28 AM PST by RinaseaofDs
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To: RinaseaofDs

Where is Dr. House when we really need him.


19 posted on 11/27/2007 8:27:54 AM PST by varina davis
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To: laotzu

20 posted on 11/27/2007 8:28:07 AM PST by freedomlover (Make sure you're in love - before you move in the heavy stuff)
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