A 72-year-old man died after his anesthesiologist left for lunch in the middle of his surgery to have a tumor removed at the Lidköping hospital in Sweden. Not only did the doctor leave for lunch but soon after the head anesthesia nurse took lunch — leaving a nurse from the orthopedic ward who did not know how to operate the respirator. It turns out that the machine was turned off.
The operation began in January 2011 at 10:45 am, but as soon as the clock hit noon the doctor declared he was punching out for lunch.
The patient’s condition went chronic with hemorrhaging and his blood pressure started to drop after the departure of the doctor — roughly an hour into his lunch break. Efforts to reach the doctor at lunch were unsuccessful. By the time, the doctor returned the patient had been without oxygen for eight minutes. They never revived the man who had suffered irreparable brain damage. He did not die however for several weeks.
The National Board of Health and Welfare criticized the doctor’s actions. These cases often revive the debate over whether some countries like Sweden would benefit for a more robust tort system for personal injuries and malpractice as in the United States. It is of course a trade off. Litigation does add costs to medical care but not as much as malpractice. Our system is based not only on a belief in the right for patients to recover fully for such loss, but also that such litigation constitutes a critical deterrent for malpractice.
What do you think?
Source: The Local
Kudos: Richard Swenson
betty, an anesthesiologist is a doctor. I’m not sure about anesthetists, but all the ones I’ve heard of are nurse anesthetists. They are very integral in the surgery, and you definitely want one that is top notch. And you DON”T want one that walks out in the middle of a surgery.
I’m not sure why people are asking the stage of what was going on, was the surgery over, etc. The first paragraph states it was the MIDDLE of the surgery. Doctors do NOT walk out of a surgery, even for frickin LUNCH! It’s the most imbecilic thing I have ever heard. It is shirking of duty!
This man and the first anesthetis should have the death penalty. It was intentional dereliction of duty, intentionally putting someone’s life at risk when it had been placed in your care. The surgeon should have SCREAMED about this, as should the orthopedic nurse. Even if she was an anesthetist, she very well could have been used to a different type of equipment/machine.
I worked in operating rooms in the late 70s as a scrub technician, and I can guarangoldangteeya that this behavior is TOTALLY unprofessional for healthcare. Beyond a SHADOW of a doubt. And also having worked for a state medical board, I can also guarangoldurnteeya that these people would have been stripped of licenses so fast it would make your head spin. I believe there would have been criminal charges as well, and I would hope that they would carry the death penalty if found guilty.
Have you all thought how you would feel if that was your father that had that happen to him, and how you would have felt? There might not have been anything left for the courts to do to them after I finished with them, were it my father! Poor defenseless man, and his poor family.
Ohhh… That was not written well at all…
It is 3 AM…. sorry… 🙂
bettykath,
An anesthesiologist is a physician, a medical doctor, who specializes in anesthesia (that is, administering the medications that keep a patient unconscious during surgical procedures and monitoring vital signs etc. to make sure they survive). A surgeon is a general term for a medical doctor who is performing surgery (a physical intervention in an anatomical process, involving cutting through the skin with a tool, etc.). There are various types of surgeons, but none (or near enough as makes no difference) are anesthesiologists.
Anesthetists, or nurse anesthetists, are nurses who are trained to administer anesthesia under the supervision of a physician. They are not doctors, and whether they can work independently of an anesthesiologist (a doctor) varies around the world and throughout the U.S. They generally can not, for obvious reasons, work independently of a surgeon. As the person in charge of the procedure and the operating room, the surgeon is ultimately responsible for everything that happens in the room and for the survival or lack thereof of the patient.
So my point is, whatever the anesthesiologist did, there was always another doctor in the room. A doctor who, we can assume, was fully capable of managing a machine as simple as a respirator and of noticing if a patient was being completely deprived of oxygen. The story (whether through sloppy writing or reporting, poor translation, or something else) blames the anesthesiologist for no apparent reason.
Ohhhh…. I just realized…. Really soon, I am hoping to have surgery….
Tho, I must admit, I am thinking of asking if they will keep me awake for it… If they can??? It will be a Laparoscopy….
However, they have put me out a few times…. They will put you out for invasive tests…. I kinda like that…. as I tend to be a total wimp…..
I think Mespo’s mention of the surgeon had to do with Sweden’s no-fault compensation system for physicians. If a/ the surgeon can’ be sued (they can’t) what are the odds that the person that handles the anesthesia can. I think it was sarcasm and had nothing to do with where the fault lies.
“Malpractice Mess
Do the Swedes have a faultless fix?”
“In Sweden, when a patient suffers avoidable injury, whether through gross negligence, such as a botched surgery, or through a more understandable but avoidable mistake, such as a misdiagnosis or medication error, the patient—usually with help from the doctor’s office—fills out a form requesting compensation. That request, along with relevant doctor and hospital staff reports, gets reviewed by an adjuster who decides whether the injury might have been avoided had treatment differed. If the claim passes that hurdle, a panel of legal and medical experts considers it. If the panel decides the injury rose from avoidable error, the patient is compensated. The award varies according to the nature of injury, the degree and duration of the patient’s disability, the expenses incurred, and other factors; it may also include compensation for pain and suffering. The entire process usually takes less than six months. Patients who feel unfairly denied or undercompensated can appeal, but they cannot sue. The system is funded by premiums charged to regional organizations of medical facilities and physicians. These premiums are substantially lower and more stable than malpractice premiums in a tort system.”
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/how_they_do_it/2005/02/malpractice_mess.html
What you mention LottaKatz as far as No Fault….
I have to say, for one… Swedes are not very sue happy… They don’t complain much…. it is just the culture…. (which is why the food sucks..)
and why progress can be a bit slow here….
I have to say, because I have NO idea what my Dr. makes…. and I know he is comfortable… he is not buying second homes in the USA…. he just makes a decent living…..
when one makes a mistake, I am less apt to want a pound of flesh here….
The Dr. don’t act like kings…. they are just regular people…. many times you can call them at home or get their personal email address and contact them…. they are pretty reasonable…. You don’t see a lot of greed here…
We ONLY pay about $200 a year for our healthcare….
and if you don’t use it… you pay NOTHING….
So, you pay about $20-$30 each time you see a Dr. until that totals $200… after that, it is free….
same for prescriptions….
You pay about $200 a year TOTAL for your medicines….
about 10% each time.. until you reach that $200 mark… after that… it is free….
NO hassle… NO BILLS!!!!!
I broke a finger a while back… it was not set very well… my fault was not going back and having them look at it….
anyway… my pinky is now, pretty much useless… and crooked….
I was given $2,000 for my finger…
Had I been in the USA, paying $500 a month for insurance… and paying
a $100 ER fee or deductible… having to hassle with all the Healthcare crap…. I might be MORE apt to want to SUE an American DR….
However, I am not a sue happy person….
Lumpy, I recall that. I’m glad to hear he received some kind of sanction.
This happened in Cambridge, Mass. a few years back. The surgeon had just opened the patient’s abdomen when he remembered his mortgage payment was due and he hadn’t mailed it. So he left the anesthesiologist in charge with the nurses holding the incision open while he ran down to the bank and wrote them a check.
He did end up losing his license, at least temporarily.
Malisha,, We are what we eat. I hope you’re not one of those women conflicted about food. As you get older food becomes more important than sex. And, when you have “Eyetalians” on a thread what would you expect?
Nate,
back on topic…..
You said,
“It didn’t say the second nurse wasn’t an anesthetist, only that she worked in orthopedics. Of course orthopedics routinely administers anesthesia during orthopedic surgical procedures, so a nurse anesthetist working on that service should be perfectly competent with the machines. If he or she wasn’t, it’s not necessarily the fault of the anesthesiologist (who is not an anesthetist). It’s the fault of the surgeon. ”
The article does say the second nurse was from orthopedics, and it also said that she didn’t know how to operate the machine. So anesthetist or not, she wasn’t competent enough to be in charge.
Nowhere in the article does it mention the surgeon. It does seem to suggest that the anesthesiologist was the surgeon??
What’s the difference between an anesthetist and an anesthesiologist? I would guess the anesthesiologist has more training and more responsibility but how does that relate to this situation?
nick spinelli
1, September 6, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Jag, You go to Arizona in the Spring or Winter, not the Summer! Geez.
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hehehehe…. I am one of the STRANGE people that LOVE 120 degrees….
I used to live in Kingman…. my parents are there now….
when I am there… I go hiking in the desert…. well… more Rockhounding….. 🙂
Ohhhhhh I LOVE that heat….
I HATE cold…. REALLLLLLY HATE cold….. Yes, I see the irony….
I’ve noticed recently that many threads turn to discussion of recipes.
What’s that about?
Malisha
1, September 6, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I’ve noticed recently that many threads turn to discussion of recipes.
What’s that about?
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People finding COMMON ground…. 🙂
There is MORE that we have in common, yet judging by most blogs… and news… and news sites… YOU would NEVER know it….
I think it is refreshing to find a group of people that don’t always agree, yet can still be civil…. and trade recipes… 🙂
Jag, You go to Arizona in the Spring or Winter, not the Summer! Geez.
Oh…. and we don’t have CAKE here…. not like Cake in the USA….
I LOVE Cupcakes…. yet, here they make these muffin like things….
Muffins are NOT Cupcakes…. BUT, they don’t know that….
also…. NO iced tea… you have to make it at home ONLY….
I LOVE Iced tea….
and… no iced MOCHAS…. or lattes…
I once spent 10 minutes explaining how to make an iced Mocha… WTH????
I spent a few weeks in the USA over the summer… Kingman Arizona… we went to Chili’s… I LOVE that place…. they gave me the BIGGEST Ice Tea in a togo cup…. It was almost as big as I am….. 🙂
Blouise, It’s always amazing what people in other countries want when asked. There was a missionary family in Medillin who were very helpful when we adopted our son in 1987. Prior to flying down I asked what I could bring. Their list was peanut butter, Miracle Whip, and M&M[plain and peanut]. They also asked for any magazines and recent newspapers. They were overjoyed when I got there..I felt like St. Nick.
Yeah…. in a global economy it is quite ODD…
You get spoiled living in the USA, where these is NOT ONE food item you can’t find….
I moved here at 41…. that is when you are set in your ways…. you have special toothpaste… Mayonaise…. Laundry soap…
It is the ONLY thing that can still make me totally melt down….
also…. we don’t have any kinds of cold medicine… NONE!!! no decongestant….. no cough syrup…. No Nyquil….
Having items shipped from the USA via Amazon is INSANELY expensive….
the USA may not have top healthcare…. or top education….
It DOES however have the BEST FOODS and most diverse…
Nick… I can’t argue with you there… 🙂
Tho, they are really fun when they drink….. even Swedes think Swedes are boring….. 🙂
my friends end up being MUCH younger than myself… people my age here, are BORING!!!!!
so, I either hang with other immigrants from South America….
or Swedish Punk Rockers…. 🙂
my daughter thinks I am the coolest mom EVER…. 🙂 hahahahaha
Ohhhh we are missing many things here….
ONCE a met an American Jew here…. it was so awesome…. American Jews have this type of personality, that I LOVE….. a bit neurotic… 🙂
Even our Gays here have no… SNAP….. no color…
It is what most immigrants complain about…. 🙂
ONE thing I MISS the most as far as food from a store…. Campbles(?) Chicken Noodle Soup… and Saltine crackers…. we have neither….
DAMN…. now I am homesick again….. 🙁
JAG, That’s one of the great ironys of life. The Swedes and Norwegians live the longest and they are dull as hell. When I first moved to Wisconsin I knew very little about Norwegians. They have an annual Syttende di Mai Noewegian festival nearby every May. I went and felt like saying, “When the hell does the festival starrt??? Women rosemauling, men carving little trolls, and food my dog wouldn’t eat. I have long believed God has a good sense of humor and giving these folks longevity is just God busting our balls.
justagurlinseattle,
Thincrust pizzas only require the lightest of toppings certainly not being soaked in sauce and cheese!
Can you access Amazon and have them ship you food stuffs?
Interesting sidenote … my granddaughter is in Japan now living with a family while doing her Junior year. They requested saltwater taffy of all things and we are arranging shipping them some smoked salmon. Both these items are considered a delicacy, very hard to get and very expensive. go figure …
Ohhhhh…. and the bread….. the bread is disgusting as all hell….
It is dry….. and tastes like crap….
I have tio admit tho, I DO like Swedish Meatballs… and make them once in a while…. With of course, Lingonberries…. 🙂
AY, 🙂
I may be the only person in America that had never had “Swedish Meatballs” so a couple of months ago I hunted down a Swedish cookbook and tried them. Figuring they would be very good or very bad I made a double batch- rolling dozens of little meatballs is not my thing so I laid in a large supply so I could freeze them. A hundred and forty tiny meatballs.
I like them in a thick sour cream sauce, not so much the wine sauce alternate. The better half doesn’t like them- things like nutmeg in beef/pork puts him off. I have one good meal of them left frozen and buried somewhere in my freezer and now that you’ve reminded me (in circuitous fashion) I will enjoy it soon. I’ll toast you with the beer I drink with them. Sour cream sauce (on anything) and a beer just goes together, yum.
Ohhh… I’ll tell ya all… Sweden, really does have amazing healthcare….. this is a very sad story….
HOWEVER…. Sweden, has the freaking WORST FOOD EVER!!!!!
Bagels…. almost nonexistent…
You can NEVER find everything you need for a dinner at ONE grocery store…
It is hard to find GOOD Italian sausage… or breakfast sausage for that matter….
and the Yogurt… Ohhh… it is hideous…. it is thin and watery…. GROSS!!!
there are a million Thai restaurants… and NO MEXICAN Restaurants….
and maybe a handful of Chinese restaurants…. :-O
ohhhh and the pizzas are the worst…. they make it really thin… which is good…. until they soak it in sauce and cheese…. :-\
FOOD is the ONE thing I absolutely hate here….
Note to self … pack a snack for the doctor
Bruce
1, September 6, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Obama care patterened after european style healthcare?
You talked about the Obama terrorist hit squad panel in a blog recently, how about the Obama Care death squad panel that picks as to wether you deserve a needy operation or not.
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It is patterned after the Dutch Health Care system…. and I think also the Swiss….
BOTH… TOP NOTCH…..
as if the USA system was better…. NOT!!!
Human error…. it happens…. NOT to mention…. there are just bad DR’s everywhere in the world…..