Maybe doctors should leave their beepers at the door before performing surgery.
A Minnesota urologist was indefinitely suspended from doing surgery for removing the wrong kidney in a cancer patient - then a few months later did a biopsy on another patient’s pancreas when it should have been done on the kidneys.
Dr. Erol T. Uke, of Edina, was also reprimanded Friday by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The ruling states Uke could regain his surgical privileges if the board later determines he is competent enough.
Uke removed the wrong kidney from a cancer patient in March 2008. Uke told investigators that he was distracted by his beeper at the time and did not read the radiologist’s notes on the case.
Left with only one cancerous kidney, the patient was reported to have undergone another operation to remove the tumor while trying to save the kidney.
Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, where the wrong kidney was removed, has since made changes in its operating procedures in order to avoid similar mistakes.
Source: NY Daily News
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