Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: hoey@aic.nrl.navy.mil (Dan Hoey)
Date: 1996/04/10
Subject: Re: Wrong leg amputated

Ken Kinser <ken.kin...@medtronic.com> writes:

[ stuff cut off ]

> > : : ... askig the patient before they put them under what was
> > : : supposed to be done to them.

Oh, yeah, I wanna be castrated, is that the word?

> > : : They also started to write it on the wrist band that is used
> > : : for identification so that the Dr could check and see for
> > : : himself (or herself)

The way I heard it they also tattoo the good leg "NOT THIS LEG IDIOT"
in huge fluorescent orange letters.

> I heard the patient sued but his case was thrown out of court.

Yeah, legally he didn't have a ... Sorry, I can't say it.

> Today, patients are double and triple checked.  They must confirm
> verbally the procedure they will be undergoing. Their ID and SSN get
> checked etc.

Roger, go at throttle up.

> It is true that today, the hospital must be negligent if the wrong
> leg gets amputated.

Sure.  Now pull the other one.

Dan "Leg end in his own time" Hoey
Hoey@AIC.NRL.Navy.Mil