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Bad Medicine: Daffy Doctors & Medical Mishaps

I'm putting this here rather than in an alternative therapy thread as the extract was manufactured by a pharmecutical company and it wsas administered in hospital.

Ginseng jabs kill three in Yunnan

Three people have died in south-western China after receiving an injection of Siberian ginseng extract.

The deaths, announced on China's health ministry web site, occurred in Yunnan province after six hospital patients received the injections.

It said sales and use of the ginseng extract had been suspended.

The ministry is also trying to dampen fears about melamine poisoning of milk, which has killed four babies and made thousands ill in a months-long scandal.

It said that 10,666 babies remained in hospital receiving treatment for renal problems caused by the melamine contamination of baby milk formula.

Some parents are taking legal action against the manufacturer at the centre of the scandal, the Sanlu Group, and the state quality supervision body.

Ginseng treatment

The ginseng injection was manufactured by Wandashan Pharmaceutical, based in the north-eastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.

Siberian ginseng is often used in China to treat heart disease and thrombosis.

The six patients suffered "serious ill effects" including chills, vomiting and sudden drops in blood pressure after receiving the injections at the Number Four People's Hospital in Honghe prefecture on Sunday.

Some went into a coma. Three of the six died on Monday, official media reported two days later.

The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) says it has isolated two problematic batches of the extract, made from a herb called "ciwujia", and has urged immediate nationwide reporting of any adverse effects.

The Associated Press reports that a man who answered the telephone at Wandashan's marketing department in Heilongjiang, in China's north-east, said the company had stopped selling the herbal injection and had sent the two batches to the SFDA for testing.

The man was reported as saying the company had used ciwujia in its products for more than 30 years without any problem.

Poor regulation

He added that the injectable form of the herb was relatively new, saying: "I haven't heard of any bad reaction [to] this injection before."

China's pharmaceutical industry is highly lucrative but poorly regulated.

Last year, the country's former top drug regulator was executed for taking millions of dollars in bribes to approve substandard medicines, including an antibiotic that killed at least 10 people.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/a ... 660489.stm
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Investigation: Doctors Turning Away Autistic Children
Reported by: Leslie Bohl Jones
Email: [email protected]
Last Update: 6:10 am

Sick Children Turned Away

SAN ANTONIO - When a child is sick, most parents think relief is as close as the doctor's office. But, many parents here tell us their children have been turned away by some medical professionals. News 4's Leslie Bohl Jones investigates why a certain diagnosis may be the reason doctors are turning these young patients away.

The newest numbers show one in every 150 children has this condition. And because of that diagnosis, necessary medical care can be very difficult to find.

Little Kay wants to play like a typical two and a half year old, but her brain works differently than most children.

She has autism. Autism is a neurological condition where she processes information differently than others.

An occupational therapist and a speech therapist help little Kay maximize her words and actions. In addition to autism, she faces another common childhood problem. One that keeps her up most hours of the day and night!

"There are other times for anywhere from an hour to two hours she just goes (gasp), and it's extremely scary," says Kay's mom, Rebecca Ferrall. "She is either not breathing or making funny noises or snoring, so she only sleeps a few hours a night."

Kay's tonsils need to come out. Breathing and snoring make sleeping a challenge for her and her family.

Desperately looking to help her child rest, Rebecca found a reputable surgeon. But she says she was stunned when the doctor flat out refused to perform the surgery. The reason? Kay's autism.

"I was in shock," says Rebecca. "First of all, that he had made a comment as a doctor that 'those autistics' don't drink well after surgery. My 7-year-old had the surgery a year before so I know it's all children who don't drink well."

Rebecca claims a second doctor also turned Kay away, because of her autism.

"I was very angry," adds Rebecca. "I just cried because it was something she needed so badly and they weren't going to do it. Just because of a label."

Rebecca is not alone.

Maritza Craig has been there, too. She has experienced the same bias against her autistic son, Emilio.

"The doctors really don't want to deal with these special needs kids because the behavior," says Maritza. "So the easy way is to just deny [them]."

Psychologist Josue Gonzalez works with families impacted by autism. "As parents we expect the fact that whatever our child needs, we will be able to find and the reality is very different," he says.

When asked if he is surprised to hear that doctors have turned away autistic children as patients, Dr. Gonzalez says, "No, I am not surprised. If anything, I think it identifies a much larger issue, which is that how it is that professionals should learn how to work with special needs children."

It's such a problem that Any Baby Can, an advocacy group for special needs children, had to put together a list of doctors and other professionals who will treat children with special needs.

"The issue is working toward developing programs identifying individuals who have such expertise and learning how to maximize those resources. But it's not sufficient. We need more," says Dr. Gonzalez.

After months of trying, Rebecca has found a surgeon who will remove Kay's tonsils. But first, she must undergo some testing and it may be months before Kay and her family get the rest they need.

Rebecca hopes raising awareness will help parents of all children. "You are your child's best advocate and never give up."

News 4 did check with the Texas Medical Board which states a physician can refuse to treat any patient he or she chooses, except in the case of emergencies. That is in accordance with the American Medical Association.

To see the list produced by Any Baby Can offering resources to parents of autistic children, click here. Advocates hope that list will only grow as awareness is raised.

You can also check out Respite Care's website, a school for special needs children that is located north of downtown in the Monte Vista neighborhood.
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http://www.woai.com/content/troubleshooters/story.aspx?content_id=53565605-c58a-4d62-995a-5b1281b7ed2b

As usual, many unanswered questions, like: Are there unique medical difficulties involved in tonsillectomies for autistic children? Why didn't the reporter interview any doctors to find out? The links to Any Baby Can's resources are useful, though. But what if you're an adult? Who maintains lists of doctors who won't turn you away for such reasons?

I've dealt with far too many doctors who lose interest as soon as a patient becomes more than a routine problem. Insurance companies don't help by insisting on high patient turnover. The doctor I'm seeing tomorrow sees people in 15-minute sessions. It'll take us that long to go over the history and discuss what I know isn't wrong with me!
 
As a child I nearly died of a burst appendix as no less than 5 doctors failed to diagnose it. By the time a doctor came along who actually realised what was wrong with me I was in too much pain to walk. Apparently I had peritonitis too, which is what made it difficult to diagnose, the doctors thought I had food poisoning.

I'm very grateful to the doctor who actually worked out what was wrong with me, and got me sent to hospital, because I would have died within a few hours without the op :shock:

The same doctor went on to perform brain surgery in the outback using a rusty drill, a really remarkable man. :D
 
I totally take back the implied diss on the doctor I saw today. I only saw him for about 15 minutes total, but his office had all the necessary equipment and personnel on hand to do the tests at once, so patients can rotate through and he has all the paperwork in his hands and we have the problem whittled down to two major possibilities (out of potential dozens) after about two hours in his office.

Alas, the tests necessary to choose between those two won't be available for a month, but nothing's perfect. It's only life-threatening if I drive, so this isn't a big problem.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled medical mayhem.
 
StormMagic said:
As a child I nearly died of a burst appendix as no less than 5 doctors failed to diagnose it. By the time a doctor came along who actually realised what was wrong with me I was in too much pain to walk. Apparently I had peritonitis too, which is what made it difficult to diagnose, the doctors thought I had food poisoning.

I'm very grateful to the doctor who actually worked out what was wrong with me, and got me sent to hospital, because I would have died within a few hours without the op :shock:

The same doctor went on to perform brain surgery in the outback using a rusty drill, a really remarkable man. :D
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that really is some doctor!
 
Inquiry into US plastic surgeon who 'used fat from clients to run car'
US authorities are investigating a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon who claims that he used fat he removed from patients in liposuction operations to power his "green" four-wheel-drive car.

Last Updated: 8:23AM GMT 24 Dec 2008

California's public health department has opened an inquiry into claims made by Dr Alan Bittner that he had turned fat removed from his patients into biodiesel.

Mr Bittner wrote on his website: "The vast majority of my patients request that I use their fat for fuel - and I have more fat than I can use.

"Not only do they get to lose their love handles or chubby belly, but they get to take part in saving the Earth."

The website lipodiesel.com has since been shut down and Mr Bittner's clinic has closed.

US business magazine Forbes reported that Dr Bittner used the "lipofuel" to power both his Ford Explorer car and his girlfriend's Lincoln Navigator.

It is not known how Dr Bittner went about turning the fat sucked out of patients into fuel.

But he claims to have carried out more than 7,000 lipo operations - and according to Forbes, a gallon of fat will produce about a gallon of fuel, and drivers can get about the same amount of mileage from fat fuel as they do from regular diesel.

It is illegal in the US to use human medical waste to power vehicles. :shock: :?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/39206 ... n-car.html
 
Midwife 'broke aromatherapy rule'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wale ... 187304.stm

Aromatherapy oils were given to the woman in labour, the hearing was told
A midwife who gave a pregnant woman aromatherapy oils may be struck off after the woman swallowed the mixture.

Sandra Hughes, of Ewloe, Flintshire, is said to have ignored Wrexham Maelor Hospital policies by giving the oils to a woman in labour with a headache.

But the woman drank the cup of sweet almond oil, lavender and lime instead of massaging it on her forehead.

The hearing in Cardiff of the conduct and competence committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council continues.

Mrs Hughes, 53, who later resigned from her job, had no authority to give aromatherapy treatment in the hospital, the hearing was told.

The dosage was low and there were no ill effects, and the mother was monitored until she gave birth to a healthy boy.

The committee heard that Mrs Hughes secretly took the aromatherapy oils into the ante-natal ward without permission to use them.

It was of such seriousness and gravity that to allow Mrs Hughes to remain on the register without restriction would seriously undermine public confidence

Salim Hafejee, solicitor for Nursing and Midwifery Council
When the mother-to-be complained that painkillers were not easing her headache, Mrs Hughes decided to offer the aromatherapy cure, the hearing was told.

Council solicitor Salim Hafejee said: "She mixed some sweet almond oil, two drops of lavender and one drop of lime in a plastic cup next to the woman's bedside.

"She then left her for 30 minutes before checking up on her again. When she went back she found that the woman's husband had arrived at her bedside - and had told her to swallow the mixture."

Mrs Hughes, who has a diploma in aromatherapy, was working at the 700-bed Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

'Seriousness and gravity'

She is accused of acting outside hospital policies and ignoring a warning not to practise her skills on pregnant women.

She is also charged with failing to keep intravenous records on another expectant woman and labelling the wrong patient's name on a blood sample.

Council solicitor Salim Hafejee told the hearing: "We say her conduct was in breach of her code of conduct.

"It was of such seriousness and gravity that to allow Mrs Hughes to remain on the register without restriction would seriously undermine public confidence."

Mrs Hughes, who did not attend the hearing, faces being struck off from the midwifery register. The hearing continues.
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Aromatherapy midwife struck off

A midwife has been struck off after a pregnant woman in labour drank aromatherapy oils she was given instead of massaging them into her head.

Sandra Hughes of Ewloe, Flintshire, who has a diploma in aromatherapy, gave the oils to the woman, who had a headache.

She was found guilty of misconduct by acting outside Wrexham Maelor Hospital policies and ignoring a warning not to practise her skills on pregnant women.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council council found her guilty of misconduct.

The conduct and competence committee meeting in Cardiff concluded that she was a continued risk to patients.

The panel concludes she is not a safe practitioner and represents a continuing risk to patients and clients

Jillian Alderwick, Nursing and Midwifery Council
The panel was told how the Mrs Hughes, 53, offered the woman a mixture of sweet almond oil, lavender and lime to ease her headache.

But the woman drank the oil. The hospital's poisons unit was alerted and she was monitored until she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

The panel heard how she had ignored advice not to practise her skills on pregnant women.

Committee chairwoman Jillian Alderwick said: "The panel concludes she is not a safe practitioner and represents a continuing risk to patients and clients."

Mrs Hughes, who later resigned from the North East Wales NHS Trust, did not attend the hearing.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wale ... 189597.stm
 
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Sierra Leone shuts bogus clinics

Many trained staff left Sierra Leone during the civil war
Nearly 50 illegal health clinics in Sierra Leone are to be shut by officials amid claims that botched operations killed patients.

The clinics in Freetown were staffed by people with little or no training, who offered inappropriate treatment, deputy minister of health told the BBC.

He also said many of those working in the clinics were foreigners.

Sierra Leone's health care system was badly damaged during the 11 years of civil war that ended in 2002.

Many doctors fled the country.


These people came into our country illegally, and established illegal structures under the pretext of giving out medical services in order to make quick money

Mohamed Koroma
Deputy Health Minister


Diary: Sierra Leone slum medic
Medical disasters uncovered by a special task force investigating the clinics included patients being given expensive saline drips which they were wrongly told would cure diseases like malaria and typhoid.

In one particularly disturbing case, a health official described how a man with appendicitis had had his genitals amputated.

The task force, set up by the health ministry, found a long and shocking list of medical disasters in the clinics.

Deputy Health Minister Mohamed Koroma said the problem was a legacy of the civil war.

"These people came into our country illegally, and established illegal structures under the pretext of giving out medical services in order to make quick money," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8239060.stm
 
Doctor Who Transferred Embryos For Octuplets Expelled From Fertility Organization
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168111.php

The doctor who performed the in vitro fertilization procedure that led to the birth of octuplets to a California woman in January has been expelled from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the nation's main professional organization for fertility specialists, USA Today reports. The woman, Nadya Suleman, had six other children, all conceived via IVF, prior to the pregnancy. She has said that physician Michael Kamrava of the West Coast IVF Clinic in Beverly Hills, Calif., transferred six embryos into her uterus. It is believed that two of those embryos split into identical twins, leading to the birth of eight infants.

ASRM guidelines call for transferring one or two embryos to patients younger than age 35 to lower the risk of multiple births. Data from 2007 posted online by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, an ASRM affiliate, show that Kamrava reported transferring 4.1 embryos on average to patients younger than age 35. The group decided to expel Kamrava late last month, according to Sean Tipton, an ASRM spokesperson. "We have a disciplinary committee that gathers information, we give people an opportunity to explain themselves, and then we take action if the committee thinks it's necessary," Tipton said. He added that only states have the power to revoke medical licenses but that some insurance plans cover treatments only if they are performed by ASRM members (Rubin, USA Today, 10/18).
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This is a bit shit.

'Afghan terror' was brain disease

A soldier diagnosed with "Afghan terror" by hospital experts should have been seen by a brain specialist, a jury at Bristol Coroner's Court said.

Lt John Abnett's parents were told his slurred speech and erratic behaviour were due to an "acute stress reaction" to an upcoming tour of duty.

But in fact the 24-year-old was suffering from a brain illness which eventually killed him.

Jurors said he should have been checked by a neurologist while at The Priory.

'Afghan terror'

The inquest in Flax Bourton heard how Lt Abnett was looking forward to a tour of Afghanistan in 2008.

But a week after being given two inoculations for hepatitis B he became agitated and started slurring his speech.

In March 2008 he was sent by the Army from his parents' home in Wilton, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, to The Priory private hospital in Bristol which specialises in mental health problems.

Consultant psychiatrist and the hospital's medical director, Dr Dorcas Kingham, told Mrs Abnett her son was suffering from "acute stress reaction" probably due to " Afghan terror" and the only remedy was for him to leave the Army, the hearing was told.

But his condition became progressively worse and ten days after admission to The Priory, he collapsed and was transferred to nearby Frenchay Hospital.

He died on 24 May 2008 following a heart attack and massive brain damage.

'Deeply unhappy'

Speaking after the verdict, Lt Abnett's mother Jane said: "We remain deeply unhappy about several aspects of John's care, and still deeply believe it could have been a different outcome."

Lt Abnett's parents say they are considering legal action against The Priory.

In their narrative verdict, the jury said Lt Abnett died of a brain illness but found there was no relation between the hepatitis B innoculations.

But they said Lt Abnett should have been sent to see a neurologist by the Priory while he was under their care.

A spokesperson for the Priory said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Mr Abnett's family at this difficult time.

"The full details surrounding Mr Abnett's death have now been examined by the Coroner's Court and we note the verdict."
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wilt ... 323542.stm
 
And so is this. I know it's not a jail, but letting a confused guy wander off to die? :(

Body found in missing man search

Police searching for a 77-year-old man who went missing from a Leicester hospital have found a man's body.

Ernest Sanham, from Loughborough, was admitted to the General Hospital on Thursday suffering from confusion and went missing the following evening.

The body of a man was found in the grounds of the hospital on Saturday afternoon.

Leicestershire police say there are no suspicious circumstances and a file is being prepared for the coroner.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leic ... 324577.stm
 
South Africa investigates girl's leg amputation mix-up
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8388030.stm

South African health authorities are investigating how a two-year-old girl who burnt her arms instead had her legs amputated in hospital.

Gauteng provincial minister Gedani Mahlangu set up a task-team on Monday.

Thembisa Kometsi was admitted into a Johannesburg hospital, where officials say her legs were amputated because they had gangrene.

An opposition party has described the incident as a "maiming" and is calling for an independent investigation.

Ms Mahlangu's spokesperson Mandla Sidu told the BBC that his department held a meeting on Monday with officials from both the Far East Rand Hospital where Thembisa was first admitted with burn wounds and from Charlotte Maxeke hospital, where she was transferred.

Mr Sidu says the provincial minister learnt of the incident from media reports and subsequently received a letter from the Kometsi family, demanding action from the Gauteng authorities.

'Maimed'

"Ms Mahlangu visited the family on Friday where they voiced their concerns," said Mr Sidu.

"A task-team been has now been set up to get to the bottom of the matter. We are expecting a report in seven days."

Opposition Democratic Alliance health spokesperson Jack Bloom welcomed the move to "demand answers from hospital staff" but said an independent investigation was needed to establish the facts.
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Drunk at work NHS Grampian scientist suspended
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scot ... 392499.stm

Colin MacInnes said he was having a midlife crisis at the time
A medical scientist with NHS Grampian found guilty of misconduct after he admitted being drunk while working in a hospital has been suspended.

Colin MacInnes was found slumped against a lift during a nightshift at the haematology department of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

A Health Professions Council (HPC) hearing earlier ruled his fitness to practise was impaired.

Mr MacInnes was then suspended for a year on Thursday.

He had told the hearing he was having a midlife crisis, but that his behaviour was a "disgrace".

I'm very happy it's all over and I'm content with such a fair hearing

Colin MacInnes
His actions caused delays with processing patient blood samples in the city hospital laboratory.

HPC chairwoman Jacki Pearce said: "No further action or to impose a caution or conditions of practice order would not adequately protect the public.

"Consequently, the remaining options are suspension or striking off.

"The panel reached the conclusion that there is a realistic prospect that you can resolve your present difficulties whilst suspended. At present, the panel considers that you could not safely return to practise even subject to conditions."

Colleagues had told how he had an unblemished career of 17 years until the incident happened last September.

Mr MacInnes said: "It was a very pleasant workplace, my colleagues and friends have been very good. It was maybe a midlife crisis, it wasn't the job."

After the hearing, Mr MacInnes said: "I'm very happy it's all over and I'm content with such a fair hearing."

An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: "The employee is no longer working with NHS Grampian. But we have noted the outcome of the panel."
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Brazil baby dies 'as doctors fight'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8537921.stm

Map locator

A baby girl died following an alleged fight between doctors in a Brazilian hospital delivery room, reports say, prompting an investigation.

The doctors were removed by security staff after clashing over who should be responsible for the delivery in the city of Ivinhema, local media reported.

Another doctor was eventually able to help the 32-year-old woman but her baby was born dead, the reports said.

An official said it was not clear if the fight played a role in the death.

The incident took place in Ivinhema in Mato Grosso do Sul state.

The two doctors have since been sacked, the Agencia Estado news agency reported, and an investigation is being carried out by police and medical authorities.

The pregnant woman, Gislaine de Matos Rodrigues, was said to have asked the doctor who had been responsible for her pre-natal care to look after her during the birth.

But just after medication was given to induce the birth, another doctor arrived and was reported to have insisted that as he was on duty he should be responsible for the procedure.

'Screaming'

Reports say the two men at first started to argue, and then to fight.

"It was a big fight. They ended up rolling around on the floor and my wife was screaming for them to stop," said the woman's husband, Gilberto Melo Cabreira, quoted by the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.

He said security staff had to be called to remove the doctors.

One of the doctors confirmed to Globo TV that there was a fight in the delivery room, but blamed his colleague.

"I didn't get in a fight with him, he got into a fight with me," said Dr Sinomar Ricardo.

The station said it was unable to interview the second doctor.

According to Brazilian media, another member of staff was eventually able to help in an emergency caesarean section 90 minutes later, but the baby girl was born dead.

A death certificate is said to attribute the cause to a lack of oxygen, but a full post-mortem examination has yet to be completed.
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This is bizarre and there has to be something else going on. Had Kapur just graduated at 43 and was incompetent? And if not, how did it come to an epic balls up like this after so many years of practice?

Surgeon who removed baby's bladder guilty of misconduct

A surgeon who mistakenly removed a baby's bladder instead of a hernia has been found guilty of misconduct by the General Medical Council (GMC).

The 18-month-old girl will have to use a catheter for life and is at risk of cancer because of the botched operation at Manchester Children's Hospital.

Pierina Kapur, 43, was supposed to take out a hernial sac but instead removed 90% of her bladder.

The baby's parents said they "respected" the GMC's decision.

Throughout the week-long hearing, Miss Kapur admitted her work throughout the operation on her young patient, known as Baby A, in October 2008 had been below standard but denied misconduct.

However, the GMC panel found that her misconduct during the young child's treatment "impaired her fitness to practice".

The GMC members told her: "When you had arrived at the hospital and took the decision to examine Baby A you effectively took the lead in her care, albeit for a very short time.

"The panel has found that you did not take any adequate steps to arrange for an ultrasound scan of Baby A's abdomen and urinary tract.

Completely unaware

"Against that background, the panel does consider your misconduct to be sufficiently serious as to justify a finding of impairment in this case."

According to the GMC, Miss Kapur failed to correctly identify the muscle layers in the abdominal wall, recognise the anatomy in the baby's left side, identify the bladder and find the hernial sac.

During the operation Miss Kapur stopped twice and seemed to to re-orientate herself to take stock of the situation.

Despite her uncertainty, she did not seek the help or opinion of a fellow consultant surgeon, the GMC said.

The hearing was told that after the operation Miss Kapur did not act when she realised the baby was not passing urine and was completely unaware she had removed the bladder instead of the hernia.

'Made accountable'

The mistakes were only uncovered during an emergency operation after the baby had become extremely poorly.

Baby A's parents said: "Our decision to involve the GMC in our daughter's case was to ensure appropriate steps were taken to ensure public safety.

"We feel that Miss Kapur has been made accountable for her actions.

"We respect the decision made by the GMC panel and do now believe that Miss Kapur is truly sorry for the pain and suffering she has caused our daughter.

"Without the hard work of the rest of the staff at Manchester Children's Hospital, our daughter would not be here today."
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manc ... 546501.stm
 
Some daffy docs involved here:

Woman gives birth three hours after finding she was pregnant
A hairdresser gave birth to a baby girl - just three hours after being told she was pregnant by doctors.
Published: 7:40AM GMT 09 Mar 2010

Belinda Waite, 21, had been to her local hospital several times during the past nine months and says she was told she had a severe case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and gout.

In fact she was pregnant with a healthy baby girl who arrived a month ago.

Miss Waite, known as Billy, from Bampton, Devon, said:"You read about these stories in magazines but you never think they happen to real people and I certainly never thought it would happen to me."

Miss Waite was staying with her partner Wyane Boyles, 28, when she unexpectedly went into labour.

Their baby daughter Louise Boyles was born at home weighing 8lb 14oz by Wayne's mum Syliva.

Miss Waite said:"It was obviously a hugh shock for us all but you have to get on with these things and we are really enjoying it."

She said she had not felt well for some months before the surprise birth.

"I did feel like something was moving inside me as the months went on. But I never considered I was pregnant and it doesn't seem to have crossed the doctors' minds." :roll:

Miss Waite went to her local hospital in Tiverton and doctors said it was likely to be IBS.

On Christmas Day she was taken to hospital again after her hands and feet swelled up and doctors assured her she was suffering from gout or an allergy.

On February 6th - the night before Louise was born - Miss Waite again went to hospital with pains throughout her body.

At 10pm doctors confirmed she was three months pregnant - in fact she was nine months pregnant - and Louise arrived four and a half hours later at 2.30am.

Miss Waite said:"I was really shocked. I don't think Wayne could believe it was happening.

"We hardly had time to think about it. No one believed us when we told them we suddenly had a child." 8)

The hospital, run by NHS Devon, have not been available for comment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... gnant.html
 
Man left infertile after wrong testicle removed
By Ella Pickover, Press Association
Friday, 19 March 2010

A man was left infertile after surgeons botched an operation on his testicle.

Doctors at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds were tasked with removing the man's right epididymis - a coiled tube which carries sperm away from the testicles - but they removed the left one instead.

The man, who has not been named, had to undergo a second operation in January last year on his right testicle, which resulted in infertility.

Health bosses declined to comment on whether he has received any compensation.

Nigel Kee, interim chief operating officer at the hospital, said: "The safety of our patients is our number one priority. As such, we take any incidents which compromise safety extremely seriously.

"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.

"We have an overriding duty to protect the confidentiality of our patients. As such, we will not comment in any further detail on this case."

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 24127.html
 
Girl, 9, saved by optician after doctors fail to spot plum-sized brain tumour SIX times
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:17 AM on 20th March 2010

A nine-year-old girl whose brain tumour was missed by doctors six times was saved by opticians after her worried mother took her for an eye test.

Shanice Bailey could have been left paralysed by a rare plum-sized 'schwannoma' tumour growing out of a nerve and pressing on her brain stem.
She visited GPs six times between September 2009 and January this year complaining of headaches and sickness but was repeatedly diagnosed with asthma and sent away.

Only when Shanice developed a squint in her left eye did her mother Laura, 27, decide to take her for an eye test - where Specsavers optician Nadia Ahmed immediately spotted the growth.
Ms Ahmen told Ms Bailey to take her daughter straight to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, where a scan revealed the two inch tumour.

Eleven days later surgeons removed the tumour in a nine-hour operation.
Despite spending a month in hospital with side-effects Shanice is now at home recovering with her family.

Ms Bailey, from Wisbech, Cambs., said she would be forever grateful to the optician.
‘It's so lucky we went to Specsavers when we did, otherwise the effects could have been devastating.
‘I kept taking Shanice back to the doctor as her symptoms got worse and more frequent.
‘Originally they said her symptoms could mean anything but then they thought it was asthma because she was coughing when she was sick.
‘She has been so brave it was unbelievable - she hasn't cried once.
‘If they hadn't have found the tumour she could have died because it was blocking fluid at the top of her spine.
‘I don't necessarily blame the doctors but they should be given more training to check for problems in these areas. Just because it's rare doesn't mean they should ignore it.’

etc...

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... z0iiUy0nGj
 
A follow up on the earlier story i think, and a worrying one too. The guy sounds incompetent getting on for criminal, but there's no action against him because he's left the country:

Surgeon cut off testicle 'by mistake' at Bury hospital

A patient lost a testicle during an operation because the surgeon cut it off by mistake, a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing has been told.

Dr Sulieman Al Hourani was only supposed to cut out a cyst, but removed the whole right testicle instead.

Dr Al Hourani was a locum surgeon at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, Greater Manchester, at the time of the surgery in September 2007.

He is accused of misconduct and also of stealing medication.

It is alleged the doctor, who is now practising in Jordan and was not present at the hearing, also injected himself with a drug meant for a patient.

Sarah Prichard, counsel for the GMC, said the mistake was made as a nurse helping the surgeon turned her back to get a stitch.

When she turned around the testicle had been removed.

Doctor dismissed

Ms Prichard said: "Literally as the nurse turned away to get a transfixion stitch, the incident occurred and the testicle was removed.

"Such was the level of concern they immediately realised it could be a serious medical incident and took steps to complete the relevant documentation."

A month later it is alleged that the doctor, who qualified after studying at Jordan University of Science and Technology, stole two boxes of dihydrocodeine from a treatment room on a ward at the same hospital.

An investigation was launched and the doctor was dismissed by his employer, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which ran the hospital.

The GMC was told of another incident in August 2006, when Dr Al Hourani had consulted a colleague and was advised to inject a patient with 10 milligrams (mg) of midazolam, a powerful sedative drug.

He then gave the patient 8mg and injected himself with the other 2mg, the hearing was told.

The case against Dr Al Hourani is being heard in his absence as he was notified of the hearing but chose not to "engage" with the GMC or appoint lawyers to represent him.

The case, scheduled to last three weeks, was adjourned until Tuesday.
Click to expand...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manc ... 630592.stm
 
High WTF factor here... :(

Woman died after doctors failed to spot toilet brush in her buttocks
A mother died after doctors repeatedly failed to spot a toilet brush handle embedded in her buttock.
Published: 9:02AM BST 19 May 2010

Cindy Corton, 35, was left with the bizarre injury after a drunken fall in a friend's bathroom in 2005.

She was twice seen by hospital staff in the aftermath of the incident and an X-ray was carried out.

But an inquest heard it took Mrs Corton, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, two years to convince doctors that the handle was lodged in flesh of her bottom.

By then what should have been a routine procedure to remove it had become much more dangerous.

After two unsuccessful operations in 2007, Mrs Corton underwent further, much riskier surgery and died from massive blood loss at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre in June last year.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Stuart Fisher criticised Dr Killian Mbewe, who first examined Mrs Corton at Grantham hospital.

After the inquest, husband Peter Corton said: "Cindy got a very poor service from the NHS.

"I'm sure she would have got better treatment in foreign countries."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... tocks.html
 
A grim tale here:

Kicked out of A&E, the dying man dismissed as a drunk
By James Tozer
Last updated at 12:33 AM on 21st June 2010

Confused and in distress, this man seems to be in need of medical attention.
But when this picture was taken, Arnold Siddall had just been dumped outside a hospital A&E department because staff thought he was drunk.
In fact he had suffered a fractured skull, but no one at the hospital read a form written by a paramedic which said the 47-year-old had hit his head on a pavement.

CCTV operators watched Mr Siddall stumbling about and lying on the grass outside the hospital for nearly 12 hours.

His injury was spotted only when he was arrested by police, but it was too late for doctors to save him and he died two days later from a brain haemorrhage.
Now a coroner has ruled that Mr Siddall could have survived had he been treated at once, rather than a full 14 hours after his fall.
His family released the poignant image of his final hours yesterday as they demanded assurances that no patient could ever be betrayed by the NHS in the same way.

Mr Siddall cracked his head after being pushed to the ground when he complained about noise outside the pub next door to his home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of the morning.
The welder, who had been drinking at the bar earlier in the evening, was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital by ambulance.
Notes written by the paramedic who took him to A&E recorded that he had lost consciousness for three minutes following the fall, but a nurse who assessed him at 2.45am failed to read them.
Instead his condition was attributed to drunkenness and after a while he staggered outside. Between 4am and 5am he tried to return to the ward, but security guards refused to let him in.

CCTV operators saw him rolling on to the grass and lying there curled up. He meandered around until 1pm when a man living near the hospital called the police and he was taken back to A&E.
However Mr Siddall was again classed as a drunk. When he said he wanted to go home, medics passed him back to security, who took him to the front of the hospital and dumped him on the grass at 3pm.

Finally, at 4pm, a police officer arrested him for being drunk and incapable.
He was taken to a police station where he suffered a fit and was admitted to A&E for a third time at 6pm. He died two days later without regaining consciousness.

The man who admitted pushing him to the ground, 25-year-old Paul Parry, was subsequently cleared of manslaughter over the clash on September 21, 2007.

Trial judge Mr Justice Peter Openshaw condemned security staff for 'abandoning' Mr Siddall and asked the hospital and Oldham coroner Simon Nelson to investigate.
A neurosurgeon told a week-long hearing that Mr Siddall could have survived if he been treated at once.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0rTZpgGxb
 
Very scary story, but A&E never impressed me much.

I once had the staff at St Thomas's (i think) in London spend a couple of hours trying to tell me i was either hysterical or on drugs after i got taken there when i passed out at work, with what turned out to be anaemia.

A few years later, a duty psychiatrist at St James's in Leeds sat there and told me i was high on 'street drugs' when in fact i really was that out of it because i was that mentally unwell. Strangely the only thing i recall going through my head at the time was how yellow her toenails were and whether it took her longer to paint them than to misevaluate me. :(

It always seem inexcusable to me, esp. when they're making really quite pernicious claims that would be easy to check by runing toxicology on your blood or pee :(
 
GP admits viewing pornographic images at Dorset surgery

A Poole GP has admitted watching pornographic images on computer equipment at his surgery, the General Medical Council (GMC) said.

Ralph Vadas, who worked at West Canford Heath Medical Centre, admitted viewing the images between 2004 and 2008.

The doctor also admitted being drunk at the surgery in 2007 and accessing patient records in 2008 and 2009 while suspended from practising.

The fitness to practise hearing will decide if he is guilty of misconduct.
Webcam

Dr Vadas admitted inappropriately touching three female colleagues.

He also admitted having a webcam in his consultation room at the surgery which pointed towards the area where patients would sit, but denied there was anything inappropriate about it, the hearing heard.

Dr Vadas also faces allegations about his care of eight patients and is accused of making threats against a witness.

The central London hearing is expected to last eight weeks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/dorset/10370482.stm
Click to expand...
 
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