Cancer patient has the WRONG body part removed in a shocking surgery blunder – forcing an emergency corrective operation
- Surgeons at Northern Beaches Hospital removed a wrong body part of a patient
- The patient was undergoing colorectal surgery at the public-private hospital
- He underwent a corrective surgery on Friday, the cause of error is being probed
A cancer patient was forced to undergo a corrective operation after surgeons mistakenly removed the wrong part of his bowel.
Surgeons at Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney performed colorectal surgery on the male patient last week.
The patient underwent a corrective surgery on Friday, but his health condition is not immediately known.
A cancer patient was forced to undergo a corrective operation after surgeons mistakenly removed the wrong part of his bowel (stock image)
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the hospital had advised NSW Health of the ‘serious event’.
‘In such situations there are investigative processes and those must proceed to their conclusion before any further comment can be made,’ Mr Hazzard said in a statement on Monday.
‘The patient’s privacy must also be respected.’
A Healthscope spokesperson said the matter is under investigation.
‘The patient and their family have been provided full disclosure and NBH is supporting their ongoing care and treatment,’ the spokesperson said.
Surgeons at Northern Beaches Hospital (pictured) in Sydney performed colorectal surgery on the male patient last week
Healthscope is a private health care provider at NBH and 42 other hospitals in Australia.
NBH, a 488-bed hospital, was opened in October last year and has since been struggling with shortage of essential drugs and medical equipment, and industrial disputes.
A parliamentary inquiry, with the power to subpoena past and present staff, is already underway regarding various issues at NBH.