An incredible story has happened – again – in the US. Patient John Murdoch reportedly woke up from anesthesia during an operation at an Oregon clinic to find his face on fire.
The first part of a widow’s damages claim against an Oregon clinic sounds like the ultimate nightmare for patients. Toni Murdoch claims her husband John was “awake and crazy” during neck surgery.
According to Toni Murdoch’s lawsuit against Oregon Health & Science University Hospital, her husband, who suffered from tongue cancer, was scheduled to have a tracheotomy performed in December 2022.
Spark ignited alcohol
Surgeons wanted to insert a tube into Murdoch’s throat to help him breathe. Before the incision, the patient’s face was rubbed with isopropyl alcohol on the operating table to sterilize it. Because the substance “was not completely dry, a spark from a surgical instrument ignited his face.”
The 52-year-old was said to be “disfigured and traumatized” as a result and “suffered severe pain from the burns” until his death from cancer six months later.
“This incident should never have happened”
Family lawyer Ron Cheng accuses the hospital and surgeon Dr. Adam Howard accused negligence and medical malpractice: “This incident should never have happened. The surgical instruments used had already been fueled in the past. The combination of oxygen, wet alcohol and a fire source created a ‘fire triangle’.”
Widow fights for $900,000 in compensation
According to court documents, Howard acquired his medical license in Oregon the same year as Murdoch’s proceedings, but did not renew it until January 2024. He now works as a lecturer at West Virginia University, where he has acquired a new license. Murdoch’s widow is fighting for $900,000 in damages.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
