Doctor Amputates Wrong Foot

[wombat2u2004]

Doctors in Peru mistakenly amputated the wrong foot of an 86-year-old man, then had no choice but to cut off the other one as well to keep an infection from spreading.

"It was a terrible shock when I lifted up the sheets and saw they had amputated his left foot," the patient's daughter, Carmen Villanueva, told RPP radio on Monday.

She said doctors in the port city of Callao had been attending to an ulcer on Jorge Villanueva's right foot since January 4.

When the infection worsened on Saturday, they ordered the ill-fated emergency surgery. Realising their mistake, doctors performed a second operation the following day that left Villanueva footless.

The Sabogal Hospital said in a statement that it suspended the doctors involved while it investigates.

Health Minister Oscar Ugarte confirmed the mistaken amputation, saying: "Without a doubt this should be punishable. ... It is a sad situation, and we have asked for an investigation."

Carmen Villanueva said her family plans to sue.

[Karen]

Sadly this is not unheard of, so when anyone I know is facing side-specific surgery, I tell them to have it marked - THIS SIDE or something in magic marker!

[Laura's Babies]

Here, when my daughter had shoulder surgery, they had HER mark the shoulder that was to be operated on with a marker before they took her to OR...

[Taz_Zoee]

When I accompanied a former PT member in for surgery they drew a sad face on the knee that needed surgery with permanent marker.
That is so sad. I'm so thankful I've never had a major surgery of any kind.

[Catty1]

Gosh, one foot in the grave already was bad enough...

[caseysmom]

When I had my foot operated on they asked me at least ten times which foot was getting the surger and they put a sleave on the wrong leg and marked good leg.