When we have a medical issue, we sometimes have to go to the hospital to have it cared for. When we do so, we expect that the medical professionals will act professionally, but that is not always the case.
Recently, a shocking incident has come to light from Rome, Italy. It happened when a 35-year-old unnamed man went to the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital on May 20. He was going to have a cyst in his mouth and a wisdom tooth removed.
After an unintended major surgery on his jaw, he suffered irreversible damage. It started when the dentist completed the biopsy on the cyst, but mixed up the slides with another patient, causing everything to go downhill.
The other patient, whose slides were mixed up, had a malignant tumor in his jawbone. This was shocking for the individual, who was in good health, as he was given results stating that he had a cancerous growth—despite believing he was fine.
He was told that the aggressive tumor would have to be treated urgently and part of his jaw would have to be removed, along with chemotherapy. This news was devastating to the man, but he was told that he had ‘no alternative.’
The surgery he underwent is known as a reconstructive implant procedure. His jaw was removed, and he then underwent nine rounds of chemotherapy.
The operation took place on July 22, leaving the patient with permanent damage, including paralysis on the right side of his face. He said that he felt ‘deformed’ after the surgery.
Things got even worse on September 1, when doctors discovered that the tumor was never there, meaning no invasive cancer treatment had been necessary. He got suspicious and went for a second opinion, having the DNA of the biological material checked by another lab.
The man said: “On October 25, the response arrived—the DNA is not mine. I no longer have a jaw and I don’t have the tumor, but someone else is sick. Very sick.”
He is now seeking compensation for his injuries and has filed a legal complaint against the dental clinic. An investigation by the prosecutor is currently taking place to determine why the error took place and who is to blame.
