Could this be a career-ending mistake? While we hear from time to time about a surgeon removing the wrong kidney or amputating the contralateral limb, the argument from symmetry makes those simpler errors to understand. Misidentifying the organ, though??
“A physician assistant and a nurse present during the surgery said the surgeon ‘was working in the exact location you would expect…(the gallbladder) to be located,’ according to the DPH’s investigation report.
However, the patient had a lot of internal inflammation and an unusual internal anatomy, which made the surgery more complex, Muller said.
‘From a medical standpoint, absolutely it’s unusual to misidentify an organ,’ Muller said. ‘But certainly, this was an unusual case.’
In addition to the state probe, hospital staff and a team from a major Boston hospital also reviewed the case and the related policies and procedures, he said. “
However, the patient had a lot of internal inflammation and an unusual internal anatomy, which made the surgery more complex, Muller said.
‘From a medical standpoint, absolutely it’s unusual to misidentify an organ,’ Muller said. ‘But certainly, this was an unusual case.’
In addition to the state probe, hospital staff and a team from a major Boston hospital also reviewed the case and the related policies and procedures, he said. “
