New Delhi: Wrong Leg operated at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh

New Delhi : In a shocking case of medical blunder reported from the capital, Doctors at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh have operated on the wrong leg of the patient. The patient who after a fall had an injury on his left leg, found out that his right leg had been mistakenly operated upon, when he woke up after the surgery.

The case is that of one 24 year old CA student, Ravi Rai who injured his left leg after having a fall from the stairs. The patient was rushed to the said hospital, where an X-ray and CT revealed fracture in his ankle and required a surgery whereby four pins would be inserted in his ankle for support. The patient post surgery found out that the doctors had mistakenly operated on his wrong foot.

What is shocking about the incident is that it has taken place in a renowned Accredited Hospital. Quality standards require a number of formatted documentation including surgical safety checklists, PAC forms with definite time out, which act as checks and balances to ensure that such mistakes in surgeries do not take place.

The family of patient has now gone to the police and registered an FIR against the hospital.

The hospitals authorities acknowledging the incident, have immediately sprung into action. A statement released by the hospital noted: "Patient safety is of paramount importance to us. We are deeply concerned and are looking into the matter and will take appropriate action as deemed necessary."

Importance of Documentation

While documentation and protocols are an integral, often subconscious part of any hospital functioning, its incidents like these when doctors are reminded of the importance of these protocols and the reason they are put in place. Even though verbal announcement of patient, site, procedure during TIME OUT may seem an obvious even mundane task, its important that it should be followed during every surgical procedure.

SIGN IN>>>>>>>>>>>TIMEOUT>>>>>>>>>>SIGNOUT

World health organisation in the year 2008 had come out  Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative to promote surgical improvement programs and had issued surgical safety checklists, elements of which have now become the base for any surgical safety protocol throughout the world.

Following is the WHO (draft) checklist.