Unbelievable Medical Accident: Removal of a Healthy Uterus Due to Misdiagnosis...

A hospital in Hong Kong experienced an absurd medical accident where the reproductive organs of a woman in her 50s were mistakenly removed.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 16th, the incident occurred at a public hospital in Yuen Long District, Hong Kong.

Hospital officials holding an apology press conference
[Photo by Hong Kong SCMP]

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The 59-year-old female victim visited the hospital on January 5th to receive treatment for postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Medical staff collected samples from her uterus and surrounding tissues and sent the specimens to the pathology department.

The woman was diagnosed with endometrial cancer on January 18th, and five weeks later, on February 26th, she underwent surgery at the hospital’s sister facility to remove her uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvic lymph nodes. The surgery was completed without issues, and the patient was discharged four days later.

The problem arose afterward. When the pathologist examined the removed tissues, no signs of cancer were found, prompting further investigation. Reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage revealed that 30 minutes after the woman’s sample was taken, a 71-year-old female patient underwent a biopsy. Both specimens were delivered to the pathology department on the same day, and it was confirmed that the samples of the 71-year-old patient diagnosed with cancer and the victim were mixed up, resulting in an incorrect cancer diagnosis.

SCMP reported that the victim only recently became aware that her healthy reproductive organs had been removed due to a misdiagnosis. The hospital admitted to the clear medical error. The chief executive of the foundation overseeing the two hospitals stated at a press conference, "We understand that this incident will have a significant impact on the patient’s physical and mental condition," and added, "We sincerely apologize and offer our condolences to the patient."

He also said that the medical team would take follow-up measures regarding the woman’s condition, and related staff members would be assigned to other duties until a detailed investigation into the incident is completed.

Meanwhile, the hospital must investigate how this medical accident occurred and submit the results to the foundation within eight weeks.

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