Commits suicide after surgery while awake and aware couldn't move

@raydene (9871)
United States
April 10, 2007 6:12pm CST
A 73 year old man commits suicide after thinking he was buried alive. It is believed that it stemmed from be operated on while awake and not being able to move or tell them. Apparently this may happen to up to 40,000 patients a year. Can you imagine being cut while you are awake and aware but have been given a drug that paralyzes you so that your body won't jerk during surgery. If interested click for more info. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18040894/
4 people like this
9 responses
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
10 Apr 07
I believe it! I had oral surgery one time to have my wisdom teeth removed...and I could hear everything they were saying and when I swallowed, they FREAKED out!!! Then they started giving me shots because I was really pale. I had problems getting into a deep sleep for years afterwords! How sad about this man. May God be with him.
4 people like this
@kiwikidz (753)
• New Zealand
11 Apr 07
How very sad for this old gentleman, it must have been frightening for him. I have had numerous surgerys over the years and have not experienced any problems, only had one anaethetic that I 'tripped' on and that was terrible and still suffer from panic attacks and am on medication for the problem that it created 'chemical imbalance in the brain'. I have to go into hospital in the next few months so will have to have faith that it is all ok.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
11 Apr 07
I do not understand that they can get away with doing this I mean that has to be so traumatic to see them cut your Body and also not being able to move when you want to that has to be so awful I am surprised that it did not cause a Heart attack
2 people like this
• United States
11 Apr 07
That is a very sad story. I have a problem with his family being aware of his subsequent problems afer the surgery. They should have got him treatment for his torments and then perhaps he could have been able to cope with the bad experience and not end his life.
2 people like this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
11 Apr 07
Oh dear this is terrible the poor man, and with this amount of patients that this happens to is astounding. Oh I never could undergo surgery while being awake but my husband did I do not know how he did it but he watched the doctors while they operated on his arm. Yuk!!
2 people like this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
11 Apr 07
it happened to me. when they cut my tonsils out. i could hear and feel everything. in my head i was screaming.i was totally helpless.when i tried to explain what happened to me they all said it was impossible. it traumatized me and to this day 20 years later i still get nightmares of pain. and yet nobody believes me. the pain was real.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Apr 07
Thats weird, but I believe it.
@lols189 (4742)
12 Apr 07
omg that is very bad. it is so sad to hear. i feel sorry for the poor man how much pain he must of been in? also his family should claim for this as these doctors and nurses nowadays havent got a clue what their doing. aahhh!! i hate going under anasthetic its a horrible feeling. i am so lucky i have never been awake when i was undergoing surgery
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
11 Apr 07
Say huh..say what?! That is too scary. No I can't imagine that is so unfortunate. That makes me really sad. I don't think these doctors know what they are doing anymore
1 person likes this