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View Full Version : Brain Surgeon Has Heart Attack While Operating, Finishes Anyway

One-Way
03-25-2009, 05:01 PM
An Italian doctor completed a brain operation despite having a heart attack after realizing his patient would never recover if he stopped the surgery.

Surgeon Claudio Vitale started feeling pains in his chest half way through the operation but refused to stop despite his team's urging and the pain worsening.

After finishing the surgery, the doctor had an angioplasty operation to treat his attack.

Vitale insists he's not a hero, but that he couldn't leave the patient "at such a delicate moment."

Both doctor and patient are recovering.

Source (http://www.abc2news.com/entertainment/weirdnews/story/Walk-it-off-its-only-a-heart-attack/P0JFQIIQ_0WH5a9uOIh2rA.cspx)
Siggie
03-25-2009, 05:19 PM
Such dedication...
Mizzike
03-28-2009, 09:06 PM
Wow. Fantastic.
One-Way
03-28-2009, 09:09 PM
I wonder if the doctor can get in trouble for this? Obviously, this is amazing and he was so dedicated to his patient. However, realistically speaking, what if his heart attack affected his performance? What if the patient died because he continued with his heart attack. I'm guessing no other surgeon was available or stopping wasn't an option, but would the surgery be looked at differently because the surgeon didn't stop and do something about it?
Eddo211
03-28-2009, 09:50 PM
...........Vitale insists he's not a hero, but that he couldn't leave the patient "at such a delicate moment."..........

My kind of guy.

One-Way, you raise a good point.
I would say unless there is a proto call in the Italian Medical Regs in regards to a surgeon making a go/no go decision in the middle of a critical surgery on his/her own ability to maintain the proficiency level required to finish the job…………without a contingency plan already in place that patient would have been history if he would have stopped, regardless of his performance level.

I am surprised though. Normally there are two qualified doctors during such critical surgeries.
cynthiak
03-30-2009, 11:25 PM
Its' unbelievable that how a person would stave off a heart attack, or if it is possible. I'm glad everything turned out well.