One Doctor - Two Operations

Recently, at the Coroner's Court in Boston there was an inquest relating to death of a 67 years old man who died after an operation at the Pilgrim Hospital. He suffered from various conditions in the past involving heart condition and too high level of cholesterol which caused blood vessels to be narrow. Generally, his weak health and old age contributed to deterioration of his state after his operation. He also contracted sepsis after it was carried out.

Nevertheless, his operation was carried out correctly but there was some delay
. However, the coroner decided that there was no medical negligence which caused the man's death. It is because it is not clear whether he would have lived if the operation was performed sooner.

The most important issue in English hospitals revealed in this case is that usually there is only one doctor on call at the hospital. That doctor who operated the man was the only one there. Because of that he had to carry out another operation of a similar seriousness that day. It caused the delay but there was nothing else that that doctor coud have done. He had even consulted with his colleaques in Nottingham before making major steps.

So, a life depends on doctors- they have huge burden on their shoulders. Therefore, they should not be placed in a possition where they have to choose which patient to operate because there is no one else to do it.

But, the positive aspect of this case was that step son of the deceased did not have any negative feelings towards the doctor. He did not blame him for what happened.


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