"AFTER THE SURGERY, SHE WAS TOLD THAT A NUT HAD DROPPED ACCIDENTALLY INTO THE OPERATED AREA. THE SURGEON SAID THE NUT WAS NOT A DANGER TO HEALTH AND WILL BE REMOVED TOGETHER WITH THE METAL IMPLANT WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE,"

Nut Left Accidentally In Woman's Body During Surgery

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) --A 29 year-old interior designer has been having sleepless nights since a 0.5 cm nut was left accidentally in her body during surgery on her backbone at a private hospital here last year.

MCA Public Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Michael Chong said the woman was treated using a metal implant supported by nuts after a road accident which left her with a cracked backbone.

"After the surgery, she was told that a nut had dropped accidentally into the operated area. The surgeon said the nut was not a danger to health and will be removed together with the metal implant without leaving a trace," he told reporters here on Tuesday.

However, two months ago the surgeon told the woman that the nut had moved near the blood vessels and as such could not be removed together with the metal implant.

"Shocked by the news, the woman asked the surgeon to operate on her immediately to avoid complications but was told that he could not do anything about it."

Chong said the woman not only had to spend more money on surgery but was also challenged to take legal action by the negligent surgeon.

An orthopaedics specialist who conducted a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan on the woman advised her to go for surgery immediately.

The surgery had been scheduled on Wednesday.

He said the woman was waiting for the outcome of the surgery before taking legal action against the male surgeon.

The case would also be brought to the Health Ministry's attention to prevent a repeat of such incident.