TheCable

The management of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH),  Nairobi, Kenya, has suspended four of its staff for reportedly performing a brain surgery on the wrong patient.

According to Kenya’s Daily Nation, the incident occurred as a result of  a mix-up during handover from admission to surgery, leading to the identification tag being placed on the wrong patient.

The wrong patient needed treatment for a swelling on the head but ended up on the table for an open brain surgery meant to remove a blood clot from the brain of another patient.

The neurosurgeon was said to have discovered the mistake hours into the surgery, when he found no blot clot in the brain of the patient he was operating on.

The surgeon, ward nurse, theatre receiving nurse and anaesthetist were consequently suspended for their alleged role in the incident.

Lily Koros, KNH chief executive officer, says the hospital “deeply regrets this event and has done all it can to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient in question.”

“We are happy to inform the public that the patient is in recovery and progressing well,” Koros said.

“The management has suspended the admission rights of a neurosurgery registrar and issued him with a show-cause letter for apparently operating on the wrong patient.”

Editor’s note: This picture was used for illustrative purposes