Patient severely burnt as fire breaks out in operating theater during routine surgery at private hospital
PERTH, AUSTRALIA: A patient suffered severe burn injuries while undergoing routine surgery after a fire broke out in the operation theater. According to reports, the male patient was undergoing a routine medical procedure at St John of God Subiaco Hospital when a fire broke out on Tuesday, February 14. He now remains in a critical but stable condition; it is not known if anyone else was injured in the fire.
According to Daily Mail, it is understood that the man was undergoing a skin procedure at the private Perth hospital. The health chiefs at the hospital launched a probe although the cause of the fire still remains a mystery.
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Current whereabouts of the patient
Although not much information was provided due to privacy laws, it was confirmed on Friday that the patient is being treated at Fiona Stanley Hospital which has a specialist burns unit.
What did the hospital authorities say?
St John of God Subiaco Hospital acting chief executive Jenny Brenton said a "serious incident" resulted in an "adverse outcome for a patient". "The patient has been transferred to a tertiary hospital for specialist care," she said in a statement. "We advised the patient's family of the situation immediately following the incident and we recognize this is a difficult time for them. We have commenced a full investigation and analysis to determine the cause. We will continue to keep the patient and family informed as this progresses. We are unable to comment any further about the circumstances and details due to privacy laws."
A similar incident
A fire broke out in a residence in Queens that was being used as an unauthorized childcare center last month. According to officials and sources, 18 children were injured in the fire, and one of them was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Shortly after 2 pm on January 25, a fire broke out in the basement of a two-story home on 147-07 72nd Drive in Kew Gardens Hills, and FDNY officials and sources said it was likely started by a lithium-ion battery from an electric scooter.
The New York Fire Department confirmed that one youngster was taken to Cornell Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, MEAWW reported. Deputy Assistant Chief Stacy Scanlon of the FDNY said that the other 17 children were in stable condition and "refused medical assistance on the site." According to Eye Witness News, the neighbors said they watched as toddlers were rushed out of the burning home. Annie Philip, one of the neighbors, said, "That was scary to see a whole bunch of kids coming out, I saw one in a blanket, that the firefighter took I think, he was running with him." According to Phillip, the smoke was so dense that she had to shut the door down the block to prevent it from filling her house.