Surgeon disciplined for removing inmate's good kidney, leaving tumorous one [oops]

OC Register ^ | 12-3-14 | Jenna Chandler

[smokingfrog]

Two years ago in February, a 59-year-old federal inmate went under the knife at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton to have his diseased left kidney removed.

He emerged from the procedure with his tumor-laden kidney still intact. The surgeon, Dr. Charles Coonan Streit, a urologist who has had his license for 41 years, mistakenly had taken out his healthy right kidney.

Last week, the California Medical Board disciplined Streit for the error, placing him on probation for three years.

According to the medical board, on the day of the operation Streit relied on memory to decide which kidney to remove because he didn’t have access to the patient’s complete medical records. And the paperwork Streit did have was incorrect: It showed the patient was admitted to St. Jude with a cancerous right kidney, according to the California Department of Public Health.

[JoeFromSidney]

I suspect dialysis would be inconvenient.

"Inconvenient" is an understatement. My first wife was on dialysis the last five years of her life. The only good thing I can say about it is that it gave her an additional five years. Thank God for small favors, or something.

[Texas Songwriter]

Boy, isn’t that the truth!!!!!

[Mjaye]

Same exact thing happened at a local hospital where I worked years ago. Allegedly, some radiology pix were turned around, plus other errors in not following check and balance procedures. My docs have always made notes on me with some kind of permanent marker that is hard to get off later. And we all agree on what they are doing and where before surgery.

[trebb]

This is an area where zero tolerance should be the rule. Whoever made the mistake on the paperwork should never be allowed near a medical facility again. And the doctor, same thing.

Yep - protocol says they don't go in unless they have triple verified the proper area/procedure - and marked it.

Some will say it's OK because the victim was a Federal inmate while ignoring the real import of such stories.

[Arthur McGowan]

I seem to remember a story years ago about where the PATIENT is given a magic marker and draws and writes on his own abdomen, or arm, or leg, “Remove THIS one.”

[trebb]

I seem to remember a story years ago about where the PATIENT is given a magic marker and draws and writes on his own abdomen, or arm, or leg, “Remove THIS one.”

I have had several procedures done over the last few years. Invariably, the prep crew asks questions and marks the area/side where the procedure is to occur. Then, the doctor stops by for a short chat and verifies before the anesthesiologist gives the happy juice.