A surgeon in north Wales mistakenly removed a healthy section of a cancer patient's bowel after confusing a tattoo for a medical marking indicating the tumour site. The error occurred at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor, where the patient was undergoing surgery for bowel cancer.
Details of the Blunder
The surgeon performed an extended right hemicolectomy instead of the intended left-sided surgery, leading to the removal of a non-cancerous part of the bowel. According to a health board report, the surgeon misinterpreted the tattoo as a medical marking, which resulted in the removal of the wrong segment of bowel. The patient has since undergone further investigations and is awaiting additional surgery.
'Never Event' Classification
The incident has been classified as a 'never event', a term used by the NHS to describe serious, entirely preventable occurrences that should not happen if safety guidelines are followed. This was one of five 'wrong site' procedures reported by the health board, where surgeons operated on incorrect body parts. Between April and July last year, the NHS recorded 139 never events across England.
Other Incidents
In a separate case, another cancer patient at Wrexham's Maelor Hospital was told they had undergone a procedure on an incorrect area. An investigation into that incident is ongoing. The details emerged from an internal health board report set to be discussed by health chiefs later this week.
Compensation Claims
Patients who have suffered harm from a never event may be able to bring a compensation claim against the NHS. According to NHS Resolution, claimants must prove that healthcare practitioners failed in their duty of care and that the harm caused was a direct result of that failure. Successful claims can cover damages for pain, loss of amenity, loss of earnings, and other expenses incurred due to negligence. Personal injury claims are subject to a three-year limitation period from the date of negligence or from when the harm became known.
