Man with hurt leg gets brain op, Man with brain tumour gets leg op

[N.O.R.F]

Man with hurt leg gets brain op

14/11/2007 23:04 - (SA)

 

Dar Es Salaam - Tanzanian Health Minister David Mwakyusa has apologised for a recent surgical mix-up that resulted in a knee patient undergoing a complex and life-threatening brain operation.

 

Surgeons at the country's main Muhimbili hospital opened the skull of Emmanuel Didas to remove a non-existent brain tumour, while Emmanuel Mgaya, who had the tumour, underwent knee surgery on November 8.

 

"We are all saddened by the incident and I would like to say sorry to the victims on behalf of the government," Mwakyusa told parliament in the country's administrative capital of Dodoma late on Tuesday.

 

Mwakyusa said a preliminary report was expected later by a team formed to probe the incident that occurred in the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute.

 

Surgeons had been suspended

 

The bungle, caused by the confusion of the patients' first name, sparked condemnation across the impoverished east African nation, known for its poor healthcare infrastructure.

 

"I have instructed a thorough review of theatre procudures so that such an incident is not repeated," said MOI's director Lawrence Museru.

 

Saying it was the worst scandal that had ever happened at the hospital, official Juma Mkwawa said: "Sharing a first name cannot be an excuse."

 

Didas, who is now recovering from the brain surgery, had come to hospital for a knee operation after a motorcycle crash, while Mgaya needed brain surgery to end a persistent migraine.

 

The two surgeons responsible have been suspended while other staff involved have been ordered to provide written explanations on the incident.

 

Earlier this month, the Tanzanian Surgical Association said the country has around 100 professional surgeons for a population of at least 35 million.

source

[Jacaylbaro]

Inaalillaah ,,, Apology muxuu tari

[Aaliyyah]

Surgeons had been suspended? now don't you all think the government is being easy on these surgeons. Such mistake is pathetic mistake, that could have been prevented if those surgeons took their job a bit more serious. Thus, they should go to prison for life so justice can prevail.

 

 

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Love is like the truth, sometimes it prevails, sometimes it hurts.

[Abwaan]

Originally posted by SheekhaJacaylka:

Inaalillaah ,,, Apology muxuu tari

Malla yaabtay... laba ruux iyo yaa kaloo og inta ay sidaan oo kale khalad wax ugu sameeyeen ayey naftooda halis geliyeen and just apology iyo shaqo ka eryid!.

[Intuition]

This happened because of a failure in the health system and poor managment. I dont think the surgeons are to blame, some one should have picked up the problem further up the line, ie when addmitted to the hospital. Very sad to see such problems and unfortunatly not very rare.