GAUZE IN HIS ABDOMEN.

Shannon News, 6 February 1923, Page 3

GAUZE IN HIS ABDOMEN.

NEGLIGENCE KILLS PATIENT. London, January 20. Mr George Nichols, a lonner .soldier, underwent an operation in July on Ins abdomen at a Ministry of " Pensions hospital',: near Liverpool.' ,He complained 'afterwards of pain, in his abdomen', and died on December 27. A post-mortem examination showed (hat a piece of’gauze a loot long arid eight inches 'wide, used as - a swab, had been lei l. in the body , alter the ©peration. At the inquest a verdict was recorded of death from misadventure by cistitis,; accelerated by the negligent omission to withdraw the gauze. A doctor staled that a leading Liverpool surgeon operated; A crisis arose in the middle ol the operation owing to terrific bleeding and shock to the man’s system. It was the; sister’s duty to count the swabs before and after use. The witness added that ~he regarded the oversight as a “recognised” accident of surgery.