BBC News | WALES | Junior surgeon took out wrong kidney

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Saturday, 29 January, 2000, 13:16 GMT

Junior surgeon took out wrong kidney

An operation in which a healthy kidney was mistakenly removed from a patient was performed by a junior surgeon, it has been revealed.

Patient Graham Reeves is still in a coma after the wrong organ was removed during kidney surgery at the Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, west Wales.

Surgeons should have removed an infected kidney but only realised their mistake when the 69-year-old patient failed to recover.

The surgeon who led the operating team, Consultant John Roberts 58, is on leave from his duties while inquiries into the medical blunder continue.

But a hospital spokesman has confirmed a junior surgeon who has not been named actually carried out the operation.

All members of the surgical team involved in Mr Reeves' operation have been stopped from carrying out similar duties.

Devastated

Mr Roberts has not spoken publically since the operation on Monday but he has issued a statement speaking of his devastation over the incident.

Mr Roberts said: "As the consultant ultimately responsible for the surgical team that undertook Mr Reeve's operation, I'm devastated by what has happened.

"Since last Monday my thoughts have been with him and his family.

"In my 30-year career in surgery I have been responsible for more than 30,000 operations and, with all the teams that I have worked with, an incident such as this has never happened before.

Graham Reeves

"I would like to thank my colleagues, staff and patients for all their support to me and the team.

"At this difficult time for all concerned I want to be with my family to try to come to terms with all that has happened over the last week. I would be very grateful if I was allowed to do this."

Investigations

Prince Philip Hospital is carrying out its own investigation into what happened and the Royal College of Surgeons has also been asked to carry out an independent inquiry by the National Assembly for Wales.

The hospital has delayed releasing the results of its preliminary inquiry until the RCS has made its report next week.

Denzil Davies MP

But Llanelli MP Denzil Davies is calling for a further independent inquiry and has written to Welsh Health Secretary Jane Hutt.

Meanwhile Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed it has been investigating the deaths of two patients in the past 18 months.

A spokesman said one of the investigations had been concluded and an inquest is due to be held, while police are awaiting a Crown Prosecution Service ruling on the second.

But police were not currently investigating the incident involving Mr Reeves.

War veteran Mr Reeves, of Burry Port, south Wales, is in a critical condition at Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

Related to this story:
Kidney inquiry report postponed (28 Jan 00 | Wales)
'Once a decade' mistake (27 Jan 00 | Wales)
Surgeon removed healthy kidney (26 Jan 00 | Wales)
Web patient guide for kidney disorders (29 Jul 99 | Health)

Internet Links: National Kidney Research Fund Prince Philip Hospital
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