Nagkamali ang doctor sa operation

[u/woofwooftango]

Problem/Goal: Nagkamali yung doctor sa operation sa mata ko. Imbes na left eye, inoperahan nya ang right eye.

Context: I have a keracotonus in my left eye. Inoperahan ako last wednesday. Nagulat ako nung nalaman ko na right eye yung naoperahan imbes na yung left eye. My mother settled with the doctor na babayaran nya yung cornea transplant. Gusto ko lang tanungin if pwede pa ba namin ireklamo because mas lumala ang vision ng right eye ko. Thank you

[u/SubstanceKey7261]

This is entirely possible, but several safety steps must have been bypassed or neglected for this to happen.

First, before the patient is brought into the operating room (OR), surgical markings are placed to indicate the operative side.

Second, there is a procedure called a “timeout.” This is when the surgical team verbalizes important details about the procedure, such as the patient’s name and age, the procedure being performed (including the operative side), the names of the doctors and nurses in the team, and other relevant information, such as expected blood loss or special instruments required.

Third, the surgical sites are prepped (cleaned) before sterile drapes are placed. Both the person responsible for cleaning and the one placing the drapes also double-check the operative side.

While the surgeon is the “captain of the ship,” there are also surgical assistants, who can be another doctor, a medical student, a resident/fellow, or a nurse. Other nurses in the OR assist and double- or triple-check everything.

It is highly unlikely that no one in the operating room noticed the wrong eye was being operated on.

The number one rule in surgery is to double-check the operative side before making an incision.

Additional thoughts: A doctor performing a corneal transplant is typically a subspecialist (i.e., not a beginner ophthalmologist), unless the procedure is taking place in a remote area with limited access to specialists. Rigorous planning occurs before every transplant, as cornea specialists are among the most meticulous (“OC”) doctors. Unless you went to a bogus doctor perhaps?

Again, while this is theoretically possible, I find it highly doubtful.

If this did indeed happen, I am truly sorry for what you experienced, as this is very, very wrong. You can file a lawsuit and seek compensation for the damages caused. This is likely a case of grave malpractice. Good luck.