EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1926, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR

PAIR OF FORCEPS LEFT IN WOMAN’S INTESTINES. CARRIED FOR THREE YEARS, A: N.Z. Cable Association. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 22. How a surgeon left a pair of six-incl forceps in a woman’s intestines afte an operation in 1923 was disclosed ai Westminister at an inquest on F’lorenci Tapp. Her husband gave evidence that she‘apparently recovered from th< original operation for an abdomina cyst, but recently complained, saying she felt a piece of wire inside. She was readmitted to St. George’s Hospital. The resident surgeon gave evidence that the doctor was at present in New Zealand, who had operated in 1923. The operation last week revealed a pair of broken forceps in the region of the pelvis. Doctor George Thornton gave evidence that he And assisted to operate uu Mrs Tapp. It was unusual for the operating surgeon to count the instruments. The Coroner said he was amazed .hat Airs Tapp had been able to walk for three years with a pair of forceps li her inside. He recalled that a distiiiguislied West End surgeon had nade the same mistake. It was the jsual practice for the assistant to lount the instruments before and after • sing, but the law held that the surjeon was responsible. He returned a •erdict of death from peritonitis folowing the removal of the forceps, legligentlv overlooked by the doctor