• Sweden edition
Science & Technology

Surgeon removes woman's hip 'by mistake'

Published: 15 Jun 12 08:18 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41458/20120615/

An experienced surgeon in Gävle in eastern Sweden mistakenly removed the entire hip joint of a healthy 30-year-old woman and left it on the operating table during what was supposed to be a minor procedure to remove a small growth in the hip area.

"I have never before heard of anything like it," said head physician Lars-Göran Holtby of the Gävle hospital to daily Aftonbladet.

The 30-year-old woman was having surgery to remove a small growth of bone close to her hip, apart from which she was completely healthy, wrote the paper.

But instead of just removing the growth, the surgeon allegedly chiseled away the entire hip joint, and put it on the operating table before the mistake was discovered.

The surgeon and the other physicians who were called in to try to solve the problem then attempted to re-attach the joint with metal plates and screws.

However, the woman developed an infection from the procedure and the hip never healed properly, causing doctors to later have to fit her with a prosthesis.

A spokesperson for the hospital’s orthopedic section, Åsa Linnea Davidsson, told Aftonbladet that the surgeon is devastated with the mistake, which was explained as a “misjudgement regarding the woman’s anatomy”, according to the paper.

“I deeply regret what has happened. It is a very serious health care injury,” she told Aftonbladet.

The incident has been reported to the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), in accordance with Lex Maria, the informal name for regulations governing the reporting of injuries or incidents in the Swedish health care system.

The Local/rm
Follow The Local on Twitter

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

09:16 June 15, 2012 by voiceofreason
Compensation! Compensation!! Substantial Compensation!!!.

Nothing more or less will do. She has many years ahead of her and I hate to imagine what complications may arise in the future.

The surgeon deserves a written warning but that should be all. He'll learn from this I believe and go on to do more good deed.
10:17 June 15, 2012 by important
Paging Dr. Nick Riviera.
12:23 June 15, 2012 by Flutterbye
The surgeon deserves a written warning but that should be all. He'll learn from this I believe and go on to do more good deed.

I don't believe you think this man should just get a written warning, have yoiu any idea what he has done.

The patient is only 30 years of age, artificial hips at present only last about 10 years so she has many surgeries ahead of her.

He removed a perfectly healthy hip, that is really scary, would you be happy for him to operate on you ? I know I wouldn't want him him near me.

He should never be allowed near an operating theatre again and should be sacked.
12:49 June 15, 2012 by Mb 65
2:23 June 15, 2012 by Flutterbye I agree 100% with you she is very young and for this to happen. It is unbelievable that the other staff assisting the surgeon should have noticed it.
14:05 June 15, 2012 by Mrs Hina
This is hell scary.. his license should be taken off..He is not worth operating any more patients..apology is not enough..
14:22 June 15, 2012 by strixy
I have read so many horrendous stories about Swedish healthcare that I think it is time patients are allowed to sue for substantial compensation. Only fear of financial loss can make those people pull themselves together.

In all fairness, I have recently consulted a private specialist in Norway and despite it costing me an arm an a leg, the level of service was, frankly, atrocious. So maybe it's not just Sweden?
14:40 June 15, 2012 by Borilla
How many think "voiceofreason" is a doctor? If he is not, then he needs hospitalization himself. The health service seems to be full of people on their second, third and fourth "mistakes". Apparently, everyone but voiceofreason recognizes that this poor young lady will suffer pain and continued surgeries for the rest of her life. Remember, there is more than one mistake here. Not only did the surgeon destroy this young lady's leg but he or the hospital, or both, managed to allow an infection to develop that meant that competent surgeons could not save the hip.
14:49 June 15, 2012 by Youdee
#4 wrote: It is unbelievable that the other staff assisting the surgeon should have noticed it.>>These were my first thoughts.

From my experience in the US (I worked as a research assistant at a university hospital), sometimes the other staff are too afraid that they'll lose their jobs. My boss was often called in as an expert witness when someone was trying to prove that the nurse (s) should have said something ...
14:54 June 15, 2012 by Daveo
Systembolget strikes again.
15:04 June 15, 2012 by ruby_18559
W. T . F ... and people wonder why i'm scared of doctors?
16:40 June 15, 2012 by libertarianism
WHO is this surgeon?! I ask bc there was a Danish surgeon some years back who I believe got booted out of Norway after she injured 29 patients. She was finally fired, ONLY to be hired in Sweden.

Residents were not happy about this, but EVIL bureaucrats kept her on. Since in Sweden, she's been reported at least seven times, including once for removing the wrong tendons and bone. Another time (which country?), she became angry during a surgery and walked out during the middle of an operation.

This mad woman was employed in Gävleborg among other places. Is this butcher the surgeon in question?

dn.se/nyheter/sverige/skandallakare-har-varnats-av-hsan-i-sverige
20:35 June 15, 2012 by dizzymoe33
This is why when you go into have surgery our doctors here write on the body part with a black sharpie marker as to what is going to be removed so the wrong body part is not removed by mistake. But also doesn't someone read the chart one more time before cutting the patient open to operate to make sure as to what they are operating on?
22:59 June 15, 2012 by Trenatos
I have to wonder how this happened.

There's more to this story than TL is giving us here..
00:37 June 16, 2012 by Svensksmith
I used to be only scared of clowns.
00:38 June 16, 2012 by J Jack
Ban Ban Ban, never again, and the employers of the so called surgeon must compensate and provide follow up care .. this is a tragedy at the opp table and the recruiting table.
19:50 June 16, 2012 by bcterry
"I used to be only scared of clowns. "

LOL, ........ you've done it again. :)
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Swedish princess bride escapes traffic fine

Swedish princess bride escapes traffic fine

Stockholm City Police have decided not to issue Princess Madeleine a fine for driving in the bus lane a few days before her high-profile wedding, after confusion about her rights to use to lane. READ () »

No review for hand-shake discrimination case

The Swedish Justice Ombudsman will not look at a case in western Sweden where a man was paid damages for not being given an internship after he refused to shake a female boss's hand for religious reasons. READ () »

Emilia Millicent
The ultimate love test is a bloody affair

The ultimate love test is a bloody affair

A zombie, a cocaine-snorting rock star and a middle-aged cop walk into a bar.... Which one captures love columnist Emilia Millicent's attention? In her last column for The Local, she explains how she has devised the ultimate test of romantic compatibility. READ () »

Sweden among winners of future EU-US deal

Sweden among winners of future EU-US deal

Sweden is second in line to benefit the most from an EU free-trade deal with the US, for which negotiations were finally given the all-clear in a move welcomed by pro-business groups in Sweden. READ () »

JobTalk Sweden
Top ten tips for entrepreneurs in Sweden

Top ten tips for entrepreneurs in Sweden

Thinking of starting a business? Doubting you can make it work? The Local caught up with equity crowdfunders FundedByMe to find out what makes "just another great idea" become a successful big-earner. READ () »

Swedish woman cleared after dog towed to death

A woman in southern Sweden has been cleared of animal cruelty charges after she tied her pet dog to the towbar of her car, which was driven away by a man causing the death of the animal. READ () »

Profit hunt dampens housing construction

Profit hunt dampens housing construction

The challenge of finding solutions to Stockholm's housing shortage must compete with the profit margins of commercial construction companies with a vested interest in keeping property prices high, a new report has found. READ () »

'Low ambition' Achilles heel of Swedish start-ups

'Low ambition' Achilles heel of Swedish start-ups

Despite increasing numbers of start-ups, Swedes are still less talented at taking their business to the next level, according to a new global study published on Monday. READ () »

More Science & Technology

 

Find a new job in Sweden now
17/06 Authorization Engineer
Västerås
17/06 Backend infrastructure Team Lead
Stockholm
17/06 BUSINESS SOL ARCHITECT
Kista
17/06 CLOUD DELIVERY EXECUTIVE
Kista
17/06 Component Test Engineer - Research & Development
Axis Communications
Lund, SKÅ
17/06 Console Tech Programmer Tom Clancy?s The Division?
Malmö

ALL JOBS »


 

 

Highlights
Private Finest.se Scanpix Ann Törnkvist Stefan Larsson Private DoToday Scanpix, C More The Local Finest.se Facebook The Local Scanpix Ann Törnkvist/The Local Henrik Montgomery/Scanpix CDC/Wikipedia (File) kristja/sxc.hu (File) Gary Krarper/Wikipedia (File) Fastighetsbyrån Swedish expats use book club to survive London Finest.se Sergei Grits Silence/WikiCommons Oliver Gee Oliver Gee Scanpix veidekke/Flickr The Local launches Italy's news in English J. Nilsson/Scanpix (File) Eddie Gee David V. Hughes

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Stripes News

13 June 22:03

This weeks results..week 24/25 »

"A weekend full of surprises and LFC football. Results look like this: Div 5 Men won 4-2, K1 lost 5-0, K2 won 2-1, Vets lost 3-2, R1 lost 4-1. Korpen Ladies play Monday night and on the 26th the Div5 Men close the first half season with the last match before the summer kicks in. /LFC " READ »

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE