MacNeal Hospital

Chicago, IL: (Aug-13-07) The family of teenage Jessica Williams filed a medical negligence lawsuit against MacNeal Hospital and a nurse, after a 20-minute surgery to remove a cyst from the girl's neck ended in burns to her face and neck. The incident occurred when Williams was slightly sedated, due for the removal of a cyst that had developed just under her ear. When the time came for the oxygen mask to be put on, someone in the operating room failed to remove the tube that ran to Williams' nose, allowing oxygen from the mask to escape into the room. When a cauterizing device was turned on to remove the cyst, the oxygen ignited, causing the burns. Jessica's burns ran along the lines of the tube. Her right eye was burned shut, and flames that went into her mouth and nose also resulted in injuries.

Jessica still has trouble breathing at times and suffers some scarring, but doctors' claim that they won't know the whole impact for years to come. In a settlement reached, MacNeal Hospital agreed to pay the family $400,000 to put an end to the medical negligence lawsuit. Sources state that these scenarios are a growing problem that needs to be addressed. About 100 and 200 operating room fires caused by the release of oxygen into the room and the ignition of devices that can cause fires on patients' bodies are reported each year. [CHICAGO SUN TIMES: O2 MASK FIRE]

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Published on Aug-13-07