Hong Kong Surgeon Blamed for Operating on Wrong Organ, Patient Dies
Quick Look
- An 85-year-old woman died after a Hong Kong surgeon operated on her stomach instead of her colon.
- An investigation found "confirmation bias" led to the error, prompting calls for the surgeon's dismissal.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
An 85-year-old woman with obstructive sigmoid colon cancer died three weeks after a surgical procedure at Tseung Kwan O Hospital where a stoma was created in her stomach instead of her colon.
A Hong Kong surgeon who operated on the wrong organ of an elderly patient had shown “confirmation bias” in identifying structures in the abdominal cavity, an investigation into the blunder has found, prompting a former lawmaker to call for his dismissal.
Tseung Kwan O Hospital on Thursday released a cause analysis report on the February 7 incident involving an 85-year-old woman with obstructive sigmoid colon cancer, who died three weeks after the operation.
She had undergone what was intended to be a transverse colostomy to relieve an intestinal blockage, a procedure that involves creating a surgical opening in the abdomen, known as a stoma.
Although her vital signs remained stable, doctors noted unusually high stromal output.
On March 1, she developed hypotension and tachycardia and was transferred back to Tseung Kwan O Hospital from Haven of Hope Hospital the following day.
A CT scan showed that the stoma had been created in the stomach rather than the colon.
Her condition deteriorated and she died on March 3 after her family agreed to a do-not-attempt-resuscitation order.
Open Questions
- Was the surgeon dismissed?
- What disciplinary actions were taken?
- Will there be further investigations?
