News >> Browse Articles >> Scandals
Japanese Patient's 'Tumour' Turns Out to be 25-Year-Old Towel
AFP
June 05, 2008
Doctors who carried out surgery on a Japanese man to remove a “tumour” had good news and bad news for him. He did not have cancer — but the “growth” that had been causing him pain was in fact a 25-year-old surgical towel.
The patient had been carrying the cloth since 1983, when surgeons at the Asahi General Hospital in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo left it in him after an operation to treat an ulcer, a spokesman for the hospital said.
The man, now 49, went in to another hospital in late May after suffering abdominal pain.
When examinations found what was believed to be an eight-centimetre (3.2-inch) tumour, he underwent the operation to remove it. It was only then that surgeons realised it was a towel.
“The towel was greenish blue although we are not sure about its original colour,” the Asahi General Hospital spokesman said, adding it had been crumpled to the size of a softball.
Asahi hospital officials visited the man and apologised, he said.
The former patient has no plans to sue the hospital, which is in talks with him over compensation or other measures, the official said.
Japanese media reports said the man, who was not identified, still had his spleen removed.
pezzy
about 1 year ago
392 comments
Wow, he is lucky he didnt get septic .
easydamsel
about 1 year ago
22 comments
i think it's all good that he is alive and well without a towel in him,bt doctors should be more careful now................
jenniferblackbear
about 1 year ago
6 comments
sowrong ,sowrong
lovemyjob
about 1 year ago
8 comments
wow. it reminds me of my neighbor who after her 7th child ( a very religious lady) contemplated getting her tubes tied and saw it as a desicraton of gods temple ( her body) but after much time spent on making the chioce to have it done she underwent the minor surgery. after 2 weeks of excrutiation pain she went back , the doctors told her it was normal and not to worry. after another few weeks she went back again. at that tiem they found a pair of surgical forcepts inside her uterus. she took this as a sign from god that she never should have had it done. i can see where she feels this might be the case but i think its called negligence and victims of these things should be compensated accordingly. its really sad taht this kind of stuff has to happen when we put our trust and faith in a professional , but at the same time we must remember that medicine is ONLY A PRACTICE. i am glad he is ok and perhaps he can now live a normal life.
4evrgvn7
about 1 year ago
4 comments
i am glad they discovered that it was a towel and not a tumor..but also that he decided do the surgery...It sadden me that a towel was left inside of him....He must be a very forgiving individual....Maybe because the hospital came to him face to face and apologized and are willing to compensate him.....Anyways,I am happy that he is alright...
basiajune
about 1 year ago
104 comments
This is horrible. And he does not want to sue. He probably is just happy that he is well and that towel is finally out of him. He should at least be reimbursed for the surgery that the towel was left in him, and this surgery to remove it. That is why I am so scared to ever need a surgery. But here in the USA, hopefully every state, counts their instruments a few times through out the whole surgery.
justinenursing
about 1 year ago
242 comments
so happy for the man he has one less thing to worry about. Im so glad that in CA we count everthing that is used for a surgery at least 3-4 times from the start to the finish.
nursetb38
about 1 year ago
62 comments
I have heard of this happening before to patients. One person I had heard about stated that she "had pain for many months that no one could account for" This person had been to many different DR. and had various diagnostic tests done. Eventually the problem was discovered, but it was after many months of complaints and Lord knows how many pain relievers. The problem--- a clamp. Needless to say the person is better today minus the clamp, however still has problems with damage that occured to tissues and organs that would otherwise be healthy. This person was "compensated" for her ordeal. My question is this. Why was the count off and never questioned? I remember a situation in nursing school while on my surgical rotation. The nurse was sitting at the table marking down the instrument count and she looked up and excitedly stated" Dr there is blood in the foley" to which the Dr. replied dryly, "we were just inside the bladder via an incision" The Dr had stated very clearly before making the incision that he was going into the bladder. Thus how mistakes are made from a little moment of inattention. At the time I thought it was funny, now however what if he had announced the clamp at the moment of inattention and the nurse had missed counting it and it was thus left behind later.
mwitten
about 1 year ago
8 comments
It is stories like these that make people so afraid to undergo surgery! And yes, the Japanese culture is very respectful and compassionate- as long as you are the same to them.
melba
about 1 year ago
88 comments
thank god he's still alive? i can't imagine the pain nor infection he could have developed! the japanese culture must be very understanding because in american we tend to be a country of suing and he would clearly have a malpractice case.
charlita
about 1 year ago
2978 comments
I am amazed he didn't have problems before this!
Account Removed
about 1 year ago
this is weird, I submitted this news story two days ago
frankiecash
about 1 year ago
82 comments
Sombody couldnt count. The towel was sterile and probably cotton. I do wonder if the person didn't have minor problems all along. I dont think I would have let this go. Some compensation would be necessary. Just glad it wasn't an instrument. haha
Shan4691
about 1 year ago
5402 comments
I am suprised that she didi not have any effect or problems prior to this. It is really scary
EvangelisticSistah
about 1 year ago
92 comments
That is scary to think that after an operation you may be stitched and have surgical instruments, sponges or towels still in you. Aren't they supposed to count the items used to make sure they are accounted for before they close you up? Well mistakes do happen, Nobody is perfect all the time. I am surprised the guy does not want to sue though as lawsuit -happy as this society is.