Officials at an English hospital apologized for leaving a scalpel inside a patient, but his wife said nothing can bring him back.
Doctors at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, England, knew they mislaid the 2-inch scalpel when they performed heart bypass surgery in September 2003 on Victor Hutchinson, 76, of Sticklepath, England.
But experts missed the instrument, although it was visible on a precautionary X-ray, The Daily Mirror reported Friday.
Hutchinson was admitted later to another hospital with stomach pains, where an X-ray showed the blade was too close to his spine to operate. The man later underwent more surgery and died of unrelated causes.
Derriford officials apologized and said steps had been taken to prevent a recurrence.
However, Hutchinson's wife, Joan, said she had lost faith in the National Health Service.
"They can offer me millions in compensation and apologize. But there's nothing they can offer that will help me," she said.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
