Hotmail
Hospital has 5th wrong-site surgery since '07
Rhode Island officials investigating after procedure on patient's hand
 | Health care videos |
 Public option a barrier to reform? Nov. 25: Is a proposed government health insurance option getting in the way of landmark health care legislation? Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., and guest host Chuck Todd, discuss. |
 | INTERACTIVE |
 | Dose of reality Do health care reform headlines leave you saying “huh?” Visit msnbc.com's guide to health reform and send us claims you'd like fact-checked. |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Health officials are investigating how a surgeon at Rhode Island Hospital mistakenly operated on the wrong part of a patient's hand, the hospital's fifth wrong-site surgery since 2007. Hospital President Timothy Babineau said in a letter that the mistake Thursday happened on a patient scheduled for surgery on two fingers. A joint on one finger underwent a procedure meant for another.
Babineau said the surgery was then performed on the correct finger and the patient was discharged.
The hospital has not released the names of the patient or surgeon involved.
Hospital officials are investigating what went wrong, as is the state Department of Health.
Rhode Island Hospital was fined $50,000 after brain surgeons operated on the wrong side of patients' heads in three separate cases in 2007.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM HEALTH CARE |
 Health care Section Front |
| Add Health care headlines to your news reader: |
Resource guide