MATSUYAMA (Kyodo) — A patient in his 70s died of suffocation at Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital on Saturday after a nurse mistakenly stuck an airtight sheet over an artificial breathing hole in his throat, the hospital said Sunday.
Police said they are investigating the case on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death. The hospital apologized for the death.
The man, who was hospitalized Nov. 15 after a stroke and was operated on two days later, had been given a permanent hole for respiration after his pharynx was removed about 10 years ago and could not speak, according to the hospital.
The hole was covered by a gauze patch, but as the patch often fell off, the female nurse in her 20s covered it with the adhesive sheet Saturday, apparently confusing the respiration hole with one for removing sputum.
The patient was found in cardio-respiratory arrest about 90 minutes later and died later that day after unsuccessful efforts to revive him, it said.
(Mainichi Japan) December 4, 2011
