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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Health & Science

Taiwanese family alleges hospital negligence led to amputation after knee surgery

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • An 81-year-old man underwent knee replacement surgery at a public hospital in Pingtung, Taiwan.
  • Post-surgery, he experienced swelling, pain, and numbness in his left leg, which his family claims was not adequately addressed by hospital staff.
  • Five days later, his condition worsened, leading to a transfer to a higher-level hospital where doctors diagnosed arterial blockage and infection, ultimately resulting in amputation.

An 81-year-old man's life took a devastating turn after a knee replacement surgery at a public hospital in Pingtung, Taiwan. The family alleges that the hospital delayed treatment, leading to the man's leg being amputated.

The elderly patient, identified by the surname Pan, underwent the procedure on August 27 for left knee arthritis. Following the surgery, he developed severe symptoms including swelling, persistent pain, and loss of sensation in his left leg. His family claims they repeatedly informed medical staff about these alarming signs, but their concerns were not adequately addressed.

We know that surgery has risks, but after the surgery, when the family found abnormalities, we reported it to the medical staff every day, but the doctors and nurses did not take it seriously. It was only when the situation became serious that he was transferred to Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital.

— Family memberThe family member describes their experience reporting post-surgery complications to the hospital staff.

It wasn't until September 1, five days after the initial surgery, that the patient's condition deteriorated significantly, prompting a transfer to Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. There, doctors discovered peripheral arterial blockage and infection in his left leg. Despite undergoing extensive surgeries, including fasciotomy and debridement, his leg could not be saved and was ultimately amputated.

The family expressed their deep distress and inability to accept the outcome, questioning the hospital's handling of the case and suspecting a delay in treatment. They had hoped the surgery would allow their father to travel and enjoy his retirement, but he is now confined to a wheelchair. The case has been submitted to the Pingtung County Medical Arbitration Committee for mediation, with the hospital requested to provide all relevant medical records.

If the medical staff had paid attention to the basic care and the patient's feedback, the treatment would not have been delayed due to inaction.

— Family memberThe family member reflects on how timely attention to their concerns might have prevented the tragic outcome.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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