CNN Politics: Source explains Murtha's cause of death

[flpoljunkie]

February 8, 2010

Source explains Murtha's cause of death

Posted: February 8th, 2010 07:05 PM ET

Washington (CNN) - Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha died Monday as a result of recent gallbladder surgery complications which arose from doctors accidentally nicking Murtha's intestines, a source close to the late congressman has told CNN. The procedure was "routine minimally invasive surgery," but doctors "hit his intestines," the source said.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/08/source-explains-murthas-cause-of-death/?fbid=Z0spBOkHHLA

[babylonsister]

1. So avoidable. Sigh. nt

[Jennicut]

2. When I heard this last night it just really bummed me out.

He could have lived, if only...
I guess all surgery is dangerous. My sister in law just had a baby the other day and it was a bit traumatic and she lost a lot of blood, had to have 3 blood transfusions. Sometimes things don't always go right.

[hlthe2b]

7. This is why laparoscopic abdominal procedures give me pause...

Sure the recovery time is far less IF everything goes well, but the risks of this happening-- given the minimal visualization of the surgical field-- make the greater invasive incisional approach worth reconsidering, I think.

[woodsprite]

3. It's such a shame, but it happens more frequently than realized.

I have a friend now who has the same brain cancer Teddy Kennedy had. She went in for a needle biopsy and lost a year of her life she has left due to a brain bleed from nicking a blood vessel on the way as they pulled the needle out. Her prognosis after cancer diagnosis was 18 months to 2 yrs with aggressive treatment. They had a 6 month delay in starting that. She's had to be away from home, in hospitals and rehab, just to recover enough to be able to do chemo and rads. :(

Prayers go out to Murtha's family.

[truedelphi]

14. And sorry about your friend.

Life can be so very hard sometimes.

[tledford]

4. Yeah but we need TORT REFORM! eom

[Beacool]

5. What a shame!!!

His death could have been avoided. It just begs the question, how many others who are not in the public eye have died because doctors botched their procedures?

x(

[Hawaii Hiker]

6. Andy Warhol died from complications of gall bladder surgery

in NYC in 1987...And he was only 58.

[Citizen Kang]

8. My sister had this proceedure

And has had chronic pain in her abdomen since 2002. She has been to every doctor she can find to get relief, even the Mayo Clinic. None of them will admit it was a botched surgery. None of them will do anything for her. They all tell her she just has to live with the pain. Some doctors have even accused her of making it up for the pain medication. Its a horrible proceedure and it needs to be done away with. Its why I have lost all faith in our medical profession.

[BlueIdaho]

9. Boy oh boy I sure hope they vote to limit damages for medical malpractice...

It would be a shame if these butchers lost their privileges in the OR.

[Phx_Dem]

10. How sad. I will refrain from blaming doctors, unless more

information comes to light that shows negligence. Let's face it, all surgery is risky -- even the most routine. And it's hard. Otherwise anyone could do it. Sometimes, even the best doctors make mistakes. They're human. Mistakes are different than negligence.

[avaistheone1]

11. I dunno. I think this injury in this kind of a surgery

shows a lack of skill and care by the surgeon. I believe it is malpractice.
It is known that the surgeon must be careful of nicking the bowel in performing gallbladder surgery.

I won't condemn him/her just yet though...

[Narkos]

12. You don't know the facts of the case so withhold judgement until then. n/t

[AzNick]

13. Isn't this how William Miller died per Stephanie's account?

I was listening to her show this morning and she said her dad died the exact same way.

Or I was too busy concentrating on the heavy traffic and did not hear it right.

[zulchzulu]

15. We have the best healthcare in the World!

And no, you can't sue doctors for malpractice!

:sarcasm: