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Yeovil hospital admits liability for operating on conscious woman | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Woman says she was left with PTSD and nightmares after procedure at Yeovil hospital | Woman says she was left with PTSD and nightmares after procedure at Yeovil hospital |
A hospital has admitted liability after a woman reported being operated on while conscious, leaving her with post-traumatic stress disorder, lawyers have said. | A hospital has admitted liability after a woman reported being operated on while conscious, leaving her with post-traumatic stress disorder, lawyers have said. |
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she screamed in agony when a surgeon cut into her belly button during an operation at Yeovil hospital. | The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she screamed in agony when a surgeon cut into her belly button during an operation at Yeovil hospital. |
Medical negligence lawyers said she was given a spinal rather than a general anaesthetic during a gynaecological procedure in 2018. | |
Following legal submissions, Yeovil district hospital NHS foundation trust, which runs the hospital, admitted liability, the law firm Irwin Mitchell said. | Following legal submissions, Yeovil district hospital NHS foundation trust, which runs the hospital, admitted liability, the law firm Irwin Mitchell said. |
The woman, in her 30s, said she screamed but nobody could hear because her head was behind a curtain and she was wearing an oxygen mask. She recalled remaining awake while a laparoscope was placed inside her, and her abdomen was filled with gas. | |
An increase in blood pressure alerted staff to her discomfort but the procedure continued, the law firm said. | |
The woman said: “I have suffered a lot with PTSD and the nightmares have been horrendous. I have these images lying on a table with people watching me and not listening to my screams. It is terrible and I can wake up around three times a week due to this. | The woman said: “I have suffered a lot with PTSD and the nightmares have been horrendous. I have these images lying on a table with people watching me and not listening to my screams. It is terrible and I can wake up around three times a week due to this. |
“I’m also now very nervous and paranoid around doctors too – my trust has just been shattered. While nothing will change what has happened to me, I just hope that lessons can be learned so no one else faces similar problems in the future.” | “I’m also now very nervous and paranoid around doctors too – my trust has just been shattered. While nothing will change what has happened to me, I just hope that lessons can be learned so no one else faces similar problems in the future.” |
The woman said she was told by the surgeon as she was taken into surgery that he had never undertaken such a procedure on a conscious patient. | |
A spokeswoman for Yeovil hospital said: “It appears that a breakdown of communication led to the use of a different anaesthetic to that normally required for such an operation. We are sorry if this patient suffered any distress as a result. | A spokeswoman for Yeovil hospital said: “It appears that a breakdown of communication led to the use of a different anaesthetic to that normally required for such an operation. We are sorry if this patient suffered any distress as a result. |
“However, this case is yet to be resolved with the claimant and we will therefore not discuss this further. | “However, this case is yet to be resolved with the claimant and we will therefore not discuss this further. |
“In a typical year, we carry out more than 15,000 operations, many of them life-saving, and we pride ourselves on the highest possible standards of care and safety.” | “In a typical year, we carry out more than 15,000 operations, many of them life-saving, and we pride ourselves on the highest possible standards of care and safety.” |
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