Doctors amputate wrong foot of Peruvian man

[Nagishkaw 510]

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Doctors in Peru mistakenly amputated the wrong foot of an 86-year-old man, then had no choice but to cut off the other one as well to keep an infection from spreading, relatives and officials said Monday.

"It was a terrible shock when I lifted up the sheets and saw they had amputated his left foot," the patient's daughter, Carmen Villanueva, told RPP radio.

She said doctors in the port city of Callao had been attending to an ulcer on Jorge Villanueva's right foot since Jan. 4.

When the infection worsened on Saturday, they ordered the ill-fated emergency surgery. Realizing their mistake, doctors performed a second operation the following day that left Villanueva footless.

The Sabogal Hospital said in a statement that it suspended the doctors involved while it investigates.

Health Minister Oscar Ugarte confirmed the mistaken amputation, saying: "Without a doubt this should be punishable. ... It is a sad situation, and we have asked for an investigation."

Carmen Villanueva said her family plans to sue.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-01-25-Peru_N.htm

[Danno 1,228]

Wow, thats startin the day off on the wrong foot, no?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

That's terrible.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Feets don't fail me now.

[Danno 1,228]

After all these years, the old timer is finally -Footless and Fancy Free.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

( i've forgotten how to embed... )

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

( i've forgotten how to embed... )

use the last part of the link - RO7Q1tMGE7g

then past it into the "quick access - insert youtube" on the left hand menu when you post a reply

RO7Q1tMGE7g

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

use the last part of the link - RO7Q1tMGE7g

then past it into the "quick access - insert youtube" on the left hand menu when you post a reply

RO7Q1tMGE7g

cool thanks!

[trillium13 84]

I don't get how this happens. Doesn't the foot that was bad LOOK bad compared the one that WASN'T supposed to be amputated? Does it not occur to anyone, "hey this foot looks fine, why would we take it off" ?

[William33 110]

A quack at the helm....

[Danno 1,228]

I don't get how this happens. Doesn't the foot that was bad LOOK bad compared the one that WASN'T supposed to be amputated? Does it not occur to anyone, "hey this foot looks fine, why would we take it off" ?

Ats what I was thinking too, someone needs to make sure there is a system in place which is followed every time to prevent this.... someone needs to put their FOOT down I tell ya.

[I'm Gone 60]

Does Peru have government run health care? If it does that will be Obama's plan B. LOL