In Mainz, a doctor made an almost incomprehensible decision during an operation: Instead of doctors, he asked a cleaning lady for help.
Munich/Mainz – A cleaning lady at the operating table: At the Mainz University Medical Center, a surgical cleaner assisted the surgeon during a toe operation. As CEO Norbert Pfeiffer reported on Friday (19 May), the little toe was to be removed from a patient during the operation with local anesthesia in autumn 2020. He had become restless during the procedure. But instead of calling a trained professional for help, the doctor asked an untrained cleaner for help. The VRM newspapers had previously reported on this.
During an operation in Mainz, not everything went according to the rules. (Symbolic image). © Waltraud Grubitzsch/dpa/Symbolbild
Cleaning lady holds patient down and hands swabs - why didn't he ask doctors for help?
The cleaner supported the surgeon in various ways. Specifically, the woman held the patient's leg and also handed a swab, Pfeiffer explained. The patient was not harmed. The operation was a routine procedure. However, the physician could have gotten support from qualified colleagues in the situation without any problems. The operation took place around 15:30 p.m., at which time there were still many doctors in the university medical center. These types of surgeries are often performed by a surgeon alone. Despite the other options, however, he decided to use the cleaning lady as an assistant. Why the doctor made this decision is not known.
"This should not have happened," Pfeiffer said, adding that his institution regretted the incident. It was a blackout and an individual failure. The employment relationship with the physician had now been terminated after an employment law procedure.
Ministry of Health: Case must not be repeated
The case also caused a stir in the Ministry of Science and Health of Rhineland-Palatinate. There, the incident was called very regrettable, it must not be repeated. It is a clear violation of existing regulations. The present case would have to be discussed in the supervisory board or with all facility management if there were an indication of systemic or systematic deficits. The fact that the case was reported to the Medical Board, taken up by it and that it was investigated, was the right way to go.
It is often not easy for patients with statutory health insurance to quickly get an appointment with a specialist. As a self-payer, on the other hand, this changes – but it's not always worth it. (cgsc/dpa)