Home / Health / Surgeon Mistakes Tattoo for Tumor, Removes Healthy Bowel
Surgeon Mistakes Tattoo for Tumor, Removes Healthy Bowel
25 May
Summary
- A surgeon removed healthy bowel due to mistaking a tattoo for a medical mark.
- The 'never event' occurred at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor, north Wales.
- Patients can claim compensation for proven negligence within three years.
A surgeon at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor, north Wales, mistakenly removed a healthy part of a cancer patient's bowel. The surgical error occurred when the medical professional misinterpreted a tattoo as a marking indicating the tumor's location. This led to an incorrect procedure, where a healthy section was resected instead of the cancerous tissue.
This incident has been classified as a "never event," a serious and entirely preventable occurrence that should not happen if safety guidelines are followed. The health board has acknowledged this and other "wrong site" procedures. The affected patient is now preparing for further surgery following additional investigations.
Such medical errors highlight systemic issues, with 139 "never events" recorded by the NHS between April and July last year. Another cancer patient at Wrexham's Maelor Hospital is also awaiting the outcome of an investigation into a procedure on an incorrect area. Individuals who believe they have suffered a "never event" can initiate compensation claims against the NHS.
