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Column1 |
Location |
Incident |
Impact |
Prevention |
Reference |
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1 |
Libby Zion Case (1984) |
New York, USA |
Libby Zion, an 18-year-old college student, was
admitted to New York Hospital for a fever and agitation. She was given a
combination of medications that had a dangerous interaction, leading to a
fatal cardiac arrest. The case led to questions about resident work hours,
supervision, and fatigue-related errors. |
The case resulted in the New York State laws that
limited the working hours of resident physicians to prevent errors due to
fatigue. |
Training simulators focusing on drug interactions
and fatigue management could have mitigated this. |
Lerner BH, The Good Doctor:
A Father, a Daughter, and the Evolution of Medical Ethics. |
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2 |
Jesica Santillan Case
(2003) |
Duke University Medical
Center, North Carolina, USA |
Jesica Santillan, a
17-year-old girl, underwent a heart-lung transplant surgery. However, the
medical team failed to match her blood type with that of the donor organs,
resulting in organ rejection. Despite a second transplant attempt, she passed
away due to brain damage caused by the error. |
The case highlighted the
importance of procedural checks in organ transplants and led to changes in
donor matching protocols. |
Better simulation for
organ transplantation protocols and decision-making could have highlighted
the need for strict matching verification. |
Annas GJ, "The
Patient’s Right to Safety—Improving the Quality of Care through Litigation
against Hospitals," The New England Journal of
Medicine, 2003. |
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3 |
Paul Lozano Case (2012) |
California, USA |
Paul Lozano underwent a laparoscopic gallbladder
removal procedure, during which the surgeon accidentally punctured his aorta.
The surgeon did not recognize the injury, and it led to excessive internal
bleeding. Lozano died a few days after the surgery. |
The case brought attention to the risks of
laparoscopic surgeries and the importance of identifying intraoperative
complications early. |
Surgical simulators with realistic anatomy and
emergency handling could have trained surgeons on recognizing such
complications early. |
California Department of Public Health, Case Investigation Report on Paul Lozano, 2012. |
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4 |
Joan Rivers Case (2014) |
Yorkville Endoscopy
Clinic, New York, USA |
Comedian Joan Rivers died
following a routine endoscopy procedure. During the procedure, Rivers
suffered complications leading to a lack of oxygen to her brain, resulting in
cardiac arrest and ultimately death. Investigations revealed issues with how
her airway was managed, along with a lack of timely emergency intervention. |
The case emphasized the
need for careful patient monitoring during routine procedures, especially in
outpatient settings. |
Surgical simulators could
have trained staff in advanced airway management techniques. |
"Joan Rivers Death:
Yorkville Endoscopy Center Faulted in Care," The
New York Times, 2014. |
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5 |
Ben Kolb Case (1995) |
Florida, USA |
7-year-old Ben Kolb was undergoing routine ear
surgery when the wrong drug was injected, leading to his death. The
anesthesiologist administered a highly concentrated local anesthetic instead
of the intended drug. It was later found that the medication had been
improperly labeled. |
This incident led to stricter protocols for drug
labeling and administration in operating rooms. |
Medication simulation training could have provided
healthcare workers with real-time checks on correct drug administration. |
"Surgery Mix-Up Killed Boy," Orlando Sentinel, 1995. |
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6 |
Elaine Bromiley Case
(2005) |
Royal Berkshire Hospital,
UK |
Elaine Bromiley, a
healthy 37-year-old woman, died following a routine sinus surgery when the
surgical team failed to manage her airway. The anesthesiologist was unable to
intubate or ventilate her effectively, which resulted in a preventable death. |
Elaine Bromiley’s
husband, Martin Bromiley, an airline pilot, initiated reforms in how medical
staff manage critical situations, adopting practices from the aviation
industry like simulation training for crisis management. |
An airway management
simulator would have improved the surgical team’s crisis-handling skills. |
Bromiley M, "Have
You Ever Made a Mistake?" Clinical Risk, 2008. |
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7 |
Dennis Quaid Twins Heparin Overdose (2007) |
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA |
Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins were given an adult
dose of the blood-thinning drug Heparin instead of a pediatric dose. The
overdose nearly caused fatal bleeding in both twins, although they eventually
recovered. |
This case drew significant attention to medication
safety in hospitals, particularly around labeling and dosage protocols for
pediatric patients. |
Medication administration simulators could have
provided extra verification steps. |
Gaba DM, "Human Error in Medicine: Lessons
from Aviation," Anesthesia & Analgesia, 2011. |
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8 |
Sushil Kumar Gupta Case
(2016) |
Fortis Hospital, Shalimar
Bagh, New Delhi |
Sushil Kumar Gupta, a
40-year-old man, died after a botched surgery for the removal of his
gallbladder. The hospital faced allegations of negligence as Gupta's
condition deteriorated after surgery, and the medical staff failed to provide
timely critical care. |
The hospital was accused
of negligence, and this case drew attention to the need for better
postoperative care and transparency in private hospitals in India. |
Surgical simulators with
postoperative complication management training could have ensured timely
intervention. |
"Family of Man Who
Died in Fortis Alleges Negligence," Hindustan
Times, 2016. |
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9 |
Anuradha Saha Case (1998) |
AMRI Hospital, Kolkata |
Anuradha Saha, the wife of US-based doctor Kunal
Saha, was admitted to AMRI Hospital for the treatment of drug-induced toxic
epidermal necrolysis (a severe skin condition). However, due to incorrect
treatment and drug overdose, her condition worsened, leading to her death.
Dr. Saha filed a lawsuit, leading to one of the highest compensation payouts
in Indian medical history. |
This case brought massive public attention to
medical negligence and set a precedent for high compensation for medical
malpractice. The court awarded the Saha family compensation of around
₹11 crore, making it one of the highest compensations for medical
negligence in India. |
Simulators focusing on drug dosing and rare skin
conditions like toxic epidermal necrolysis could have helped prevent the
error. |
"Supreme Court Orders Rs 11.5 Crore
Compensation in Anuradha Saha Death Case," The
Times of India, 2013. |
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10 |
Uday Tewari Case (2016) |
Medanta-The Medicity,
Gurgaon |
Uday Tewari, a
24-year-old student, underwent a spine surgery to treat back pain.
Unfortunately, the procedure went wrong when the medical team allegedly
operated on the wrong side of the spine, leading to paralysis and eventual
death. The family accused the hospital of medical negligence. |
The case raised concerns
about negligence during surgery and led to widespread media coverage
questioning accountability in healthcare practices. |
Better pre-surgical
planning and simulation for spinal surgeries could have avoided the error. |
"Family Alleges
Medical Negligence at Medanta," India Today, 2016. |
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11 |
Dr. Rajan Sharma Case (2001) |
AIIMS, New Delhi |
Dr. Rajan Sharma, a young orthopedic surgeon, died
after undergoing a routine knee surgery at AIIMS. A fatal medical error
occurred when excessive anesthesia was administered, resulting in cardiac
arrest. |
This incident raised concerns about the quality of
anesthetic management in surgeries. The case received attention due to the
hospital's prominent status and led to discussions about improving patient
safety standards in India. |
Simulation-based training for anesthesiologists on
correct dosing and intraoperative monitoring would have reduced risks. |
"Anesthesia Overdose Blamed for Death of
Doctor During Surgery," The Hindu, 2001. |
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12 |
Savita Halappanavar Case
(2012) |
Galway University
Hospital, Ireland (Savita was originally from Karnataka, India) |
Although the error
occurred in Ireland, the case of Savita Halappanavar, an Indian-origin
dentist, is significant due to its global impact and association with Indian
medical practices. She died from septicemia after being denied an abortion
during a miscarriage, as per Irish law. The case sparked a debate on medical
ethics, religious practices, and the rights of pregnant women. |
Savita's death led to
widespread protests and changes in Ireland's abortion laws, and the case was
widely discussed in India due to its relevance to women's health rights and
medical ethics. |
Simulators focused on
pregnancy-related complications and ethical decision-making could have helped
prevent the tragic outcome. |
"Savita
Halappanavar's Death Sparks Protests in India," The
Indian Express, 2012. |
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13 |
Kalpana Patil Case (2014) |
Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai |
Kalpana Patil, a 44-year-old woman, underwent a
laparoscopic hysterectomy at Bhatia Hospital. Post-surgery, her condition
worsened due to internal bleeding, which was not detected in time. Despite
multiple follow-up procedures, she succumbed to the complications. The
hospital was accused of negligence in monitoring the patient's postoperative
condition. |
The incident prompted discussions about the
importance of vigilant postoperative care in hospitals and led to scrutiny of
private hospital protocols. |
Post-surgery care simulations could have
highlighted early signs of bleeding. |
"Family Alleges Negligence in Woman’s Death
After Surgery," Mumbai Mirror, 2014. |
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14 |
Varsha Deshpande Case
(2019) |
Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune |
Varsha Deshpande, a
46-year-old woman, died after undergoing knee replacement surgery. During the
procedure, she suffered a fatal cardiac arrest, which her family claimed was
due to improper anesthesia management and lack of immediate emergency
response. |
The case led to
widespread media coverage and highlighted the importance of anesthesiologist
expertise during surgeries. It also sparked debates on accountability in
private healthcare facilities. |
Simulation training for
anesthesiologists could have helped in detecting early signs of
anesthesia-related issues. |
"Pune Woman Dies
After Knee Surgery; Family Blames Hospital," The
Times of India, 2019. |
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15 |
Nagesh Rane Case (2011) |
Mumbai, Maharashtra |
Nagesh Rane, a 48-year-old businessman, underwent a
laparoscopic surgery for kidney stone removal at a private hospital. During
the procedure, his ureter was accidentally punctured, leading to sepsis and
multiple organ failure. The family alleged that the hospital failed to
recognize the complications early and provide proper postoperative care. |
The case highlighted the risks associated with
laparoscopic surgeries and led to discussions about better preoperative
planning and surgical team communication. |
Urological surgery simulators would have trained
the surgeon to avoid critical anatomy. |
"Family Accuses Hospital of Medical Negligence
After Businessman's Death," The Times of India, 2011. |
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16 |
Laxman Chauhan Case
(2018) |
Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital,
Mumbai (Sion Hospital) |
Laxman Chauhan, a
30-year-old patient, was undergoing a minor surgery to remove a tumor from
his leg. During the surgery, it was alleged that a power outage in the
hospital led to complications, and inadequate backup systems delayed the
procedure, resulting in cardiac arrest. He died soon after. |
This case raised concerns
about infrastructure issues in public hospitals and the need for better
emergency preparedness, especially in critical situations where equipment is
life-saving. |
Simulations focusing on
emergency power outages and critical backup plans during surgery would have
been beneficial. |
"Surgery in Dark:
Patient Dies at Sion Hospital During Power Outage," Mumbai Mirror, 2018. |
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17 |
Amit Singh Case (2019) |
Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Bihar |
Amit Singh, a 35-year-old man, underwent an
appendectomy at PMCH. During the surgery, the doctors accidentally severed
his intestines. Post-surgery, he developed severe complications, including
septicemia, and died due to multiple organ failure. The family filed a case
against the hospital for negligence and demanded justice. |
The case drew public attention to the conditions of
government hospitals in India and the importance of surgical precision and
postoperative care. |
Detailed anatomical simulators for appendectomies
could have helped avoid surgical mistakes. |
"Patient Dies After Appendectomy Gone Wrong,
Family Blames PMCH Doctors," The Hindu, 2019. |
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18 |
Sangeeta Bhagat Case (2016) |
Bangalore, Karnataka |
Sangeeta Bhagat, a
38-year-old woman, was undergoing a cesarean section when a surgical error
led to excessive internal bleeding. The medical staff did not address the
bleeding promptly, leading to cardiac arrest and death. The family sued the
hospital for negligence. |
This incident highlighted
the risks associated with maternal surgeries and led to calls for better
monitoring of high-risk patients during childbirth. |
Maternal surgical
simulators could have trained the team on how to handle high-risk C-sections. |
"Hospital Blamed for
Botched C-Section Leading to Woman’s Death," Bangalore
Mirror, 2016. |
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19 |
Puneet Kaur Case (2017) |
Ludhiana, Punjab |
Puneet Kaur, a 25-year-old woman, died following
complications from a botched laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. The doctors
reportedly failed to properly remove the gallbladder, leaving parts behind,
which later led to a massive infection. Despite follow-up procedures,
Puneet’s condition worsened, and she passed away due to septicemia. |
The case led to widespread calls for stricter
checks on the quality of care in smaller, private hospitals and better
oversight of surgical procedures. |
Simulators focused on laparoscopic anatomy and
handling postoperative infections could have helped. |
"Family Alleges Negligence as Young Woman Dies
After Botched Surgery," The Tribune, 2017. |
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20 |
Ravi Shankar Case (2015) |
Fortis Hospital, Noida |
Ravi Shankar, a
52-year-old patient, underwent heart surgery at Fortis Hospital in Noida. The
surgery was reported to have been successful, but a critical postoperative
error occurred when he developed internal bleeding due to an undetected leak
near the surgical site. The hospital staff failed to respond to the
complication in time, leading to his death. |
The case led to public
outcry and investigations into postoperative care practices at prominent
private hospitals. It also triggered debates about accountability in
corporate healthcare. |
Simulated postoperative
complication management could have ensured earlier detection of internal
bleeding. |
"Post-Heart Surgery
Death Sparks Negligence Allegations Against Hospital," The Times of India, 2015. |
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21 |
Santosh Rathore Case (2021) |
Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur |
Santosh Rathore, a 42-year-old patient, died
following a failed appendectomy at the Government Medical College and
Hospital in Nagpur. The surgical team allegedly operated on the wrong side of
his abdomen, and this oversight was only realized after his condition
worsened. He developed severe complications post-surgery and passed away a
few days later. |
This incident triggered public outcry and calls for
better surgical training and increased accountability in government
healthcare institutions. |
Pre-surgery simulation-based training on anatomical
accuracy could have avoided the error. |
"Man Dies After Appendectomy Error: Nagpur
Hospital Under Scrutiny," Nagpur Today, 2021. |
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22 |
Vaishali Rathod Case
(2012) |
Civil Hospital,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
Vaishali Rathod, a
28-year-old woman, died after complications arose during a routine tubectomy
(sterilization) procedure. The surgeon reportedly perforated her bowel during
the procedure, which led to severe infection and eventual death. The family
filed a case of medical negligence against the hospital. |
The case highlighted
concerns over the quality of care in government sterilization camps and the
risks associated with these procedures when performed in high-volume,
low-resource settings. |
Surgical simulation
training for handling sterilization procedures could have helped. |
"Woman Dies After
Tubectomy at Civil Hospital: Family Alleges Medical Negligence," The Indian Express, 2012. |
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23 |
Baby Khushi Case (2018) |
SRN Hospital, Allahabad |
In a heartbreaking incident, a newborn named Khushi
died after a botched pediatric surgery at SRN Hospital, Allahabad. The infant
was undergoing surgery for a congenital heart defect. The family alleged that
the hospital’s failure to provide adequate postoperative care and improper
handling of the surgery led to the baby’s demise. |
This case led to an investigation into the
hospital's surgical procedures and called for increased oversight of
pediatric surgeries in government hospitals. |
Pediatric surgery simulators could have trained
staff for better care in high-risk surgeries. |
"Newborn Dies After Surgery at SRN Hospital,
Family Alleges Negligence," The Times of India, 2018. |
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24 |
Pratibha Sharma Case
(2013) |
Jaipur, Rajasthan |
Pratibha Sharma, a
35-year-old woman, died following a hysterectomy procedure at a private
hospital in Jaipur. It was found that her bladder was accidentally punctured
during the surgery, leading to severe complications. The error was not
immediately identified, and she succumbed to septicemia a few days later. |
The case highlighted
issues in postoperative monitoring and led to calls for improved surgeon
training, especially in smaller, private hospitals. |
Simulation training in
gynecological surgeries could have enhanced anatomical awareness. |
"Bladder Punctured
During Hysterectomy: Woman Dies of Septicemia,"
The Rajasthan Post, 2013. |
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25 |
Vinayak Trivedi Case (2018) |
Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, India |
A man died after a liver transplant due to
unnoticed internal bleeding. |
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Simulators for liver surgery and postoperative
monitoring could have caught the bleeding earlier. |
The Hindu, 2018. |
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