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HKMedicine2 days ago

Hong Kong surgeon misidentified organs in fatal blunder, hospital probe finds

A Hong Kong surgeon performed surgery on the wrong organ of an 85-year-old patient with obstructive sigmoid colon cancer, leading to her death. The hospital's investigation found the surgeon exhibited 'confirmation bias' in identifying anatomical structures during the procedure. The patient underwent a planned transverse colostomy but the stoma was incorrectly placed in the stomach instead of the colon. This error led to complications, including high stomal output, low blood pressure, and an increased heart rate. The patient was transferred back to Tseung Kwan O Hospital and ultimately passed 

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 and 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 stomal output.

On March 1, she developed low blood pressure and an increased heart rate and was transferred back to Tseung Kwan O Hospital from Haven of Hope Hospital the following day.

A CAT 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.

Read the full article at South China Morning Post →
Source document: Tseung Kwan O Hospital Cause Analysis Report

1 reports

South China Morning PostParty-alignedCenter2 days ago
Hong Kong surgeon misidentified organs in fatal blunder, hospital probe finds

A Hong Kong surgeon performed surgery on the wrong organ of an 85-year-old patient with obstructive sigmoid colon cancer, leading to her death. The hospital's investigation found the surgeon exhibited 'confirmation bias' in identifying anatomical structures during the procedure. The patient underwent a planned transverse colostomy but the stoma was incorrectly placed in the stomach instead of the colon. This error led to complications, including high stomal output, low blood pressure, and an increased heart rate. The patient was transferred back to Tseung Kwan O Hospital and ultimately passed 

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a medical error without apparent ideological framing. It presents facts from the hospital's investigation and does not take a stance on the surgeon’s actions beyond stating the findings. There is no evident bias in language, sourcing, or emphasis.

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  • organisation Tseung Kwan O Hospital Cause Analysis Report

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  • organisationTseung Kwan O Hospital Cause Analysis Report