An Oregon man suffered severe burns during surgery, leading to a lawsuit against the hospital and medical staff for malpractice.
Murdoch was there for a tracheostomy as part of his treatment for tongue cancer. His family claims that staff used isopropyl alcohol to sterilize his face, but it hadn’t dried before a surgical tool sparked a fire.
His wife, Toni, filed a $900,000 lawsuit against the hospital and the surgical team for medical malpractice. Sadly, John passed away in June 2023, about six months after the incident, and he never fully recovered from the burns.
His lawyer, Ron Cheng, expressed that this should never have happened. Even though Murdoch struggled to speak, he communicated the pain and trauma he experienced from the burns to his wife.
The tool used in the surgery had a history of sparking, and combined with the wet alcohol and oxygen, it created a dangerous situation.
Reports suggest that surgical fires occur about 90 to 100 times a year in the U.S. The American College of Surgeons emphasizes the need for medical staff to be vigilant to prevent such incidents.
Dr. Adam Howard, who performed the surgery, had just received his medical license in 2022, but it lapsed in January 2024. He’s still listed as an instructor at the hospital.
Oregon Health & Science University declined to comment due to patient privacy laws and ongoing litigation. Cheng did not respond to requests for comment.
