Surgeon Operated With Penknife

[naomi24]

//A surgeon at a crisis-hit NHS trust used a Swiss Army penknife to open up the chest of a patient because he claimed he could not find a sterile scalpel....Prof Graeme Poston, an expert witness on clinical negligence and a former consultant surgeon, told the BBC: “It surprises me and appals me. Firstly, a penknife is not sterile. Secondly it is not an operating instrument. And thirdly all the kit [must have been] there."//

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62g7ed3qzxo

 

 

This is frightening!  I can't see that he's been struck off - but I really hope I just missed that bit in this report.

[Spungle]

True story- my brother was working on the roof of a private hospital in Manchester (the one most top footballers attend incidentally) and suddenly he heard shouting below- it was a surgeon asking whether he had a cross-head screwdriver?!  He did, an old one, which he lent him- was apparently doing a hip replacement and couldn't find his (sterile) one!   

[barry1010]

Just how sharp was his penknife?

[Old_Geezer]

Presumably sharp enough.

 

Meanwhile, the claim that a scalpel wasn't available, needs investigation. Sounds very strange.

[youngmafbog]

Why wasnt he named?

Total negligence IMHO.  If you really dont have the equipment you stop the procedure.

[ToraToraTora]

This is some rent a mouth attention seeking quack trying to make some sort of point. Sounds like a load of old pony to me.

[Canary42]

Sign here to save the NHS from profiteers

 

https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/say-no-to-nhs-privatisation-24.      

 

 

[ToraToraTora]

no one is talking about privatising the NHS canary. Not even your beloved Labour party.

[Canary42]

try again

https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/say-no-to-nhs-privatisation-24

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[poorclare]

If the operation was successful why worry what instrument was used.

[Peter Pedant]

o god if someone operated on  my hip with a cross ply that jad just come off the roof - - I wd go spare

[Peter Pedant]

we got away with it - -  is a very poor reason to do something

[poorclare]

Even if the operation was successful ? 

Get a life  -  I bet you'd put in for compensation.

Thank God you are alive and well.

[sandyRoe]

Some of the more expensive Swiss Army knives do have a Phillips type screwdriver.

I wonder when they dropped the thingy for taking stones out of horses' hooves?

[Peter Pedant]

Get a life  -  I bet you'd put in for compensation.

noop - no damage - no case ( which you kinda always knew)

you cant sue on a chance - ( actually you might  if it were a contract) ( which you kinda always knew)

[Peter Pedant]

Back story: The BBC also reported that the same surgeon who used a Swiss army knife, who the broadcaster did not name, carried out three operations where the patients died soon afterwards.

He  used it for cardiac arrest ( internal cardiac massage) which I conclude must be casualty. Patient survived. There WAS an internal inquiry which opined not being able to find a scalpel in a hospital was " questionable"