Today, The Sydney Morning Herald, published a story of yet another medical procedure gone terribly wrong.

In August 2019, a woman booked in for elective hernia surgery at Dubbo Hospital in western NSW. Following the procedure, the woman deteriorated where on the 11th day, the doctors found fragments of food in a tube draining fluid from her chest. A 15-centimetre tear in her oesophagus, leaking food into her lungs, was allegedly found when the woman was airlifted to Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Sadly, following septic shock, the woman died on September 17, 2019.

The woman’s death is one of four potentially preventable deaths uncovered by a Sydney Morning Herald investigation where the coroner wasn’t notified or chose not to investigate. It also comes as there was no internal investigation until two years later when the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) received an anonymous complaint.

The full story by The Sydney Morning Herald can be found here: Dubbo Base Hospital death sparks fury against sick system (smh.com.au)

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If you or anyone you know has suffered as a result of a medical procedure gone wrong, please contact our medical negligence team on 13 43 63.

At Turner Freeman, we have specialist medical negligence lawyers who will assess your case and provide personalised advice regarding your legal entitlements. Our medical negligence lawyers are located across NSW including in our offices in ParramattaSydneyWollongongNewcastle and Toronto.