Doctor’s Mistake in Surgery Costs Patient His Arm in Sweden
Örebro, Sweden – Charles Greneby, 54, from Örebro, has lost the function of his only healthy arm after a doctor operated on the wrong side during surgery. Greneby was originally scheduled for an operation to address a narrowing of the spinal canal. However, due to a mistake made by the doctor in his notes, the wrong side was operated on. The University Hospital in Örebro has expressed regret over the incident and plans to submit a report to the Inspectorate for Care and Care. Furthermore, Greneby has reported the incident to the Regions’ mutual insurance company.
The fatal operation took place on June 27, and two months have passed since then. Greneby reflects on the incident with anger towards himself and recalls a conversation with a nurse just before the surgery. The nurse noticed markings on his neck, to which Greneby jokingly responded that it might be the leg they were going to operate on. Little did he know that his lighthearted remark would turn into a devastating reality.
The operation was expected to last for an hour, but it was not until six hours later that Greneby woke up from anesthesia. It was then that the doctor approached him and admitted to making a mistake. Greneby’s neck surgery was intended to alleviate the narrowing of his spinal canal, which had caused a loss of sensation, limited function, and radiating pain down his right arm. However, due to the doctor’s error, Greneby now experiences a loss of function in his previously healthy left arm.
The doctors have been unable to provide a prognosis for Greneby’s arm, leaving him uncertain about his future employability. Simple tasks such as dressing, eating, and personal hygiene have become challenging for him. He now drinks coffee through a straw and is in constant pain, relying on medication for relief. The timing of the surgery was particularly unfortunate as Greneby missed his daughter’s wedding due to the prolonged hospital stay caused by the subsequent bleeding.
Greneby’s daughters, Michelle and Athena, express their concerns for their father’s well-being and the toll the operation has taken on the family. Michelle mentions the emotional impact of missing important moments due to the surgery, while Athena contemplates moving to Örebro to support her father.
Greneby’s disappointment lies with the hospital and the doctor responsible for the mistake. He feels that no one has taken responsibility for the incident, and he questions the hospital’s reporting of the error. The University Hospital in Örebro acknowledges the mistake and plans to submit a report to the Inspectorate for Care and Care. They express remorse for what has transpired and hope for Greneby’s recovery.
Investigations are ongoing to understand how such a serious mistake could have occurred, and the hospital acknowledges that they have failed in this case. Greneby’s future remains uncertain as he waits to see if he will regain function in his arm and alleviate the constant pain he now endures.