Posted on 11/27/2007 9:36:44 PM PST by Westlander
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rhode Island Hospital was fined $50,000 and reprimanded by the state Department of Health Monday after its third instance this year of a doctor performing brain surgery in the wrong side of a patient's head.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Just can’t imagine this happening. When I had knee surgery several years ago, the doctor came in and circled the knee in question with a magic marker and had me agree with the markings. Every person that approached me there after asked me it the knee circled was the knee that would be worked on. I even think the janitor approached me with the same question.
Just before I was put under the anesthesiologist asked me to point to the offending knee.
If they can’t do the simple things right, should we trust them with brain surgery?
“Prior to my 2 surgery’s this year, I used an indelible marking pen to draw arrows on site to be operated on. The other side I marked NOT HERE.”
Too funny, but obviously necessary.
When I get into my car in the morning, I don’t forget which side of the road to drive on.
2 seperate hip replacements at different times and the same scenario you experienced. It was almost comical, but they weren’t taking any chances.
Try taking a business trip to London then driving back to your hotel after a couple pints of Guinness.
LOL, too true!!
“If they can’t do the simple things right”
I have worked a few jobs in my life where the simplest thing to do became the most daunting task because boredom rises up and steals your brain.
PS. Always get a laugh from your tagline.
Dr Howard....Dr Fine....Dr Howard :-)
While the surgeon presumably knows this, anyone in the chain of preparation who forgets it, looks at some right-side symptom and marks the right side of the patient makes a mistake that must be overridden, perhaps when the patient is already unconscious.
There was a cranky old surgeon where I worked as an OR/Recovery orderly. He would enter the patient’s room the night before and with a black indelible marker write “NO” on the opposing limb or location and mark where every one agreed (including the conscious patient) the cut would be. He must have started practicing in the 40s, and he never “messed up” — and this must have been a problem for a long time. He solved it for himself. You did too.
“Abby Normal”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.