NJ surgeon removes wrong lung

[Amby 490]

TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey surgeon's medical license was suspended after state regulators found he removed the wrong lung from a patient, then tried to conceal the error.

The State Board of Medical Examiners found Dr. Santusht Perera moved a portion of the patient's right lung when he should have been removing a tumor in the left lung, the state Attorney General's Office said Wednesday.

Perera, according to the board, then told the patient that the right lung contained a life-threatening tumor, though there was no such growth. He also altered the patient's records to show he intended to operate on the right lung.

The board determined that Perera's actions constituted gross negligence.

The board said the "tragic error" could have been prevented if Dr. Perera had taken "the most basic and minimal of actions that should be taken by a surgeon in advance of surgery."

Perera, who practices at Hoboken University Medical Center, was assessed $81,000 in fines and reimbursement costs.

His lawyer, Michael J. Keating, is on vacation and not available for comment, his office said Wednesday.

David Wald, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, said no other complaints were pending against the doctor.

Under the ruling, Perera can appeal for an early restoration of his medical license after six months

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371643,00.html

[Fandango 1,439]

Uhm, so what happens now to the patient?

[Amby 490]

I don't know! Just thought it was fecked up!

[MrsCat 6]

I think they get a lawyer and sue before the bad lung runs out.

[Nagishkaw 510]

How can anyone put a price on a life?

[MrsCat 6]

Sadly it is done everyday. As much as life cannot be quantified - lawyers and adjusters find a way to do it.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Uhm, so what happens now to the patient?

i don't know know but i'm holding my breath that it turns out ok.

[zqt3344 21]

Very sad and unfortunate, that is someone's life.

TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey surgeon's medical license was suspended after state regulators found he removed the wrong lung from a patient, then tried to conceal the error.

The State Board of Medical Examiners found Dr. Santusht Perera moved a portion of the patient's right lung when he should have been removing a tumor in the left lung, the state Attorney General's Office said Wednesday.

Perera, according to the board, then told the patient that the right lung contained a life-threatening tumor, though there was no such growth. He also altered the patient's records to show he intended to operate on the right lung.

The board determined that Perera's actions constituted gross negligence.

The board said the "tragic error" could have been prevented if Dr. Perera had taken "the most basic and minimal of actions that should be taken by a surgeon in advance of surgery."

Perera, who practices at Hoboken University Medical Center, was assessed $81,000 in fines and reimbursement costs.

His lawyer, Michael J. Keating, is on vacation and not available for comment, his office said Wednesday.

David Wald, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, said no other complaints were pending against the doctor.

Under the ruling, Perera can appeal for an early restoration of his medical license after six months

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371643,00.html

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Uhm, so what happens now to the patient?

i don't know know but i'm holding my breath that it turns out ok.

tee hee

[Nagishkaw 510]

Uhm, so what happens now to the patient?

i don't know know but i'm holding my breath that it turns out ok.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Uhm, so what happens now to the patient?

i don't know know but i'm holding my breath that it turns out ok.

tee hee

i'm winded reading your post.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Full of hot air, as usual.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Uhm, so what happens now to the patient?

Or more likely:

[Niels Bohr 72]

The bottom is the consequence of polio!

I do have to agree with penalizing the Doctor; however, removing the license permanently is unfair. Not only that, they work nearly 80 hours/week. Mistakes happens all the time. With a Doctor of any speciality, their mistakes are less. Every humans mistakes happens. All of us drive. The speed limit is at 65 mph, yet people drive 80 or 75 mph. All of us have neglected these safety more often than we even think about. Hence, more people suffer more accidents compared to the operational room.

[Mags 112]

The bottom is the consequence of polio!

I do have to agree with penalizing the Doctor; however, removing the license permanently is unfair. Not only that, they work nearly 80 hours/week. Mistakes happens all the time. With a Doctor of any speciality, their mistakes are less. Every humans mistakes happens. All of us drive. The speed limit is at 65 mph, yet people drive 80 or 75 mph. All of us have neglected these safety more often than we even think about. Hence, more people suffer more accidents compared to the operational room.

Well, not all doctors do 80 hour weeks...

I think he deserves to have his license taken away. Not only cause he fcuked up and has probably taken away that patient's chance of survival, but because he LIED about it afterwards. That's what p!sses me off more.

It was probably all due to the x-ray being read backward, it's totally avoidable IF he had been paying attention.

And what this has to do with driving a car at 80 mph I have no idea!