Woman receives compensation for surgery ordeal

A woman has been awarded an undisclosed amount of compensation after suffering a horrifying ordeal during surgery, reports the Telegraph.

Alexandra Bythell had attended Burnley General Hospital to have her appendix removed in 2010.

She initially fell asleep when the anaesthetic was administered, but apparently woke up a short time later to find herself on the operating table with her eyes taped closed and breathing tubes in her throat. She was unable to alert medical staff that she was awake because the drugs she had been administered had a paralysing effect. Fortunately she fell back asleep before the operation itself began.

An investigation found that the anaesthetic machine had not been properly checked and did not contain sufficient gas for the operation. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has apologised to Mrs Bythell for the incident.

However, Mrs Bythell suffered from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of her experience, reports the Telegraph, and has found it hard to return to work. The compensation she has received will help cover her loss of earnings and pay for therapy to treat the psychological aftereffects of the trauma.

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