Sky Eclat
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 17, 2012
- 57,761
- 216,011
Robert Liston, a surgeon in the 1800s, performed an operation which instead of saving the life of the patient, killed three people instead!
Liston was renowned for being one of the fastest surgeons alive, which at the time was a very good thing.
Anesthesia as we know it didn't exist, so patients were awake for the entire procedure, meaning the shorter it was, the better.
Liston was performing a leg amputation, but worked so fast that he accidentally cut off two fingers on his assistant's hand.
Both the patient and the assistant died later of gangrene, most likely due to the saw being unclean.
During the procedure, Liston accidentally swiped near an elderly doctor with a blade, slicing the fabric of the doctor's suit coat.
Thinking he had been cut open, the doctor went into shock and died of a subsequent heart attack.
Thus, three people died during an operation that was meant to save one life!
Liston was renowned for being one of the fastest surgeons alive, which at the time was a very good thing.
Anesthesia as we know it didn't exist, so patients were awake for the entire procedure, meaning the shorter it was, the better.
Liston was performing a leg amputation, but worked so fast that he accidentally cut off two fingers on his assistant's hand.
Both the patient and the assistant died later of gangrene, most likely due to the saw being unclean.
During the procedure, Liston accidentally swiped near an elderly doctor with a blade, slicing the fabric of the doctor's suit coat.
Thinking he had been cut open, the doctor went into shock and died of a subsequent heart attack.
Thus, three people died during an operation that was meant to save one life!