Docs remove wrong testicle

The Sun ^ | March 19, 2010 | Neil Millard

[billorites]

A PATIENT was left infertile after doctors operating on his testicle removed the wrong one.

The bungling medics' mistake has prompted an urgent overhaul of procedures at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

Details of the error surfaced this week after the hospital was forced to confess all thanks to freedom of information laws.

Care at the hospital had previously been rated "good" by the Care Quality Commission.

The botched op took place last year.

The unnamed patient should have had his right epididymis — a narrow tube connected to the testes — removed but the surgeons took away his left one instead.

A second op was then needed to take away the right one, rendering him totally infertile.

The hospital has refused to say if it paid the victim of the appalling mistake compensation.

The hospital's embarrassed health chief Nigel Kee said: "A thorough investigation into this case was carried out by an independent consultant, who advised us to introduce an additional hospital-wide policy giving clearer instructions on marking and verifying sites prior to surgery.

"We implemented this recommendation immediately."

[Shaun_MD]

If you really knew how often this occurred and was kept quiet, you would never trust a surgeon again. God complex or not.

[1curiousmind]

A perfect picture of what is taking place in Washington today.

[RichInOC]

This is what happens when you have surgery done on your genitals in a brewery town.

[ronnie raygun]

Population control, one more human who cannot reproduce. Nationalized healthcare at it’s best

[NEPA]

Two weeks ago I had a breast mass removed. From the time I walked into the hospital until the actual surgery I had to answer the same questions over and over including my birth date, what I was having done and which side. When the surgeon came in she had to sign my right shoulder with a black marker before I was rolled into the op room.

These mistakes are easily avoided.

[reg45]

Two weeks ago I had a breast mass removed. From the time I walked into the hospital until the actual surgery I had to answer the same questions over and over including my birth date, what I was having done and which side. When the surgeon came in she had to sign my right shoulder with a black marker before I was rolled into the op room.

These mistakes are easily avoided.

And those same precautions will be quickly eliminated as a cost saving measure.

[bikerman]

When the surgeon came in she had to sign my right shoulder with a black marker before I was rolled into the op room

Doc, now do I operate on the shoulder with the black mark or is it the one without the mark,anyone got a coin?

[stayathomemom]

This kind of bumbling stupidity is why I have a longstanding policy of marking any areas where non-emergency surgery is to be performed with a black indelible marker indicating what IS and what IS NOT the correct areas for the doctor to work on.

UK cost cutting.

[martin_fierro]

♀☹☠☣☢★☆ MANGLED GENITALS PING ☆★☢☣☠☹♂

[count-your-change]

Hey! At least they did the right patient....didn’t they?....didn’t they?......oh no..check that that name tag!!!!

[tet68]

LOL. I forget, what is metric for left or right?

[andy58-in-nh]

T'was the Night of the King's Castration: the last of the Royal Balls was coming off...

[kabumpo]

I hope you are feeling better and wish you a speedy recovery.

[NEPA]

Thanks, I’m doing fine.

[Slings and Arrows]

Apparently the Senate Republicans use the NHS.

[unkus]

Of course it happened in one of those countries with a mature and well-oiled Obamacare-like health system.

---

Exactly why there will be “Tort Reform” if 0bamacare passes.

[metmom]

When I went in for carpal tunnel surgery, they used a marker to mark what hand was to be done and had me verify that that was what I understood and was expecting to have operated on.

If it helps prevent mistakes, they can write on me all they want.

[dalereed]

At least he won’t be caught like Edwards was!

[o2bfree]

I hope the doctors remove this.

[Eaker]

Ping for your expertise!