Surgeon who removed wrong kidney cites distractions
by The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- A state report says a surgeon at a Minneapolis hospital who removed the wrong kidney from a cancer patient says he was distracted when he made a mistake on the patient's chart.

The report by the Office of Health Facility Complaints says the surgeon also says he failed to read a radiologist's notes to ensure he was operating on the correct side.

Methodist Hospital issued a public apology after the botched surgery in March.

The hospital has subsequently imposed new rules for "mistake proofing" the operating room, including extra steps to doublecheck the images and mark the proper side before surgery.

The report reveals that the patient had surgery at another hospital to try to remove the tumor and save his remaining kidney. No information on his condition has been released.