Austrian hospital accidentally amputates bad leg | Abroad

Austrian media report this. The elderly patient’s left leg would be amputated. The patient was operated on Tuesday, albeit on his healthy right leg. Shortly before the operation, a cross was mistakenly placed on the wrong leg, medical director Norbert Fritsch told a press conference on the painful mistake on Thursday afternoon.

The patient had a condition that allegedly affected both legs, Fritsch explained. The condition was so serious that an amputation of the femur was necessary.

After the surgical error, the patient is not spared a second amputation. The left leg will still need to be removed. The man and his family were immediately informed of the medical absence on Thursday. According to the director of the hospital, psychological help was offered to them.

“We assure you that we will do everything possible to resolve the problem,” Fritsch said at the press conference. He spoke of “human error” caused by an “unfortunate combination of circumstances”.

The attending physician is currently placed on hold at his own request.