Terrifying moment surgeon performs live vasectomy on himself while being fully conscious

Here’s the terrifying moment a surgeon performed a live vasectomy on himself all while being fully conscious.

For those unaware, the procedure is a form of male birth control that stops sperm being ejaculated from the penis during sex, which is done by cutting and ultimately sealing the tubes that carry the sperm in the first place.

Essentially, it’s a permanent form of male contraception that prevents pregnancy from occurring.

While it may be a pretty simple procedure for medical experts to perform, that sentiment certainly changes if you perform it on yourself.

But that’s exactly what one surgeon in Taiwan decided to do, rather than getting a fellow health expert to do the job for him.

The surgeon was braver than most (Instagram/@docchen3)

The surgeon was braver than most (Instagram/@docchen3)

Dr Chen Weinong published the video of his getting the procedure to Instagram and Facebook for ‘educational purposes’, though that did come with a strict ‘do not try this at home’ warning for viewers.

He captioned the video: “A very special experience, there will be no next time.”

The viral clip sees Dr Weinong sitting back in surgical chair as he uses medical equipment such as a surgical clamp to carry out the operation.

The procedure concluded with the surgeon stitching himself up, with the operation taking around 15 minutes in total.

This is where the benefit to doing it yourself comes in as a vasectomy usually takes around 30 minutes, according to the NHS.

But honestly, do not do this at home.

“It was a strange feeling to touch and suture my own urethra,” he wrote on social media after conducting the procedure himself.

According to the Daily Mail, Dr Weinong said that he experienced some pain and discomfort after conducting the operation, but he felt alright by the next morning.

The doctor was accompanied by a qualified urologist while he performed the surgery – meaning they could take over in case things went wrong.

The doctor conducted the surgery on himself (Instagram/@docchen3)

The doctor conducted the surgery on himself (Instagram/@docchen3)

Symptoms right after surgery can include blood in your semen, bruising of your scrotum, infection of the surgery site, mild pain or discomfort and swelling, according to Mayo Clinic.

However, the health gurus over there note: “For most men, a vasectomy doesn’t cause any noticeable side effects, and serious complications are rare.”

It’s important you’re absolutely sure before having a vasectomy, as it might not always be possible to reverse the procedure at a later date.

While surgery to reserve it is possible, Mayo Clinic notes such procedure can be more complicated than the initial surgery and may even be ineffective in some cases.

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Featured Image Credit: Instagram/docchen3

Topics: HealthViral

All executive orders Donald Trump has already signed just hours into presidency

All executive orders Donald Trump has already signed just hours into presidency

Donald Trump has wasted no time since being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

The White House’s website states 25 executive orders have been signed since Donald Trump was inaugurated.

Within the first 24 hours of being sworn in as the President of the United States for the second time, Donald Trump has wasted no time signing off on multiple executive orders.

Donald Trump takes oath of office
Credit: WTKR News 3
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Halting the TikTok ban

The White House website states: “To fulfil those responsibilities, I intend to consult with my advisors, including the heads of relevant departments and agencies on the national security concerns posed by TikTok, and to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.

“My Administration must also review sensitive intelligence related to those concerns and evaluate the sufficiency of mitigation measures TikTok has taken to date.”

The ban has subsequently been paused ‘for a period of 75 days’ to allow Trump’s administration to ‘determine the appropriate course forward’.

Trump has paused the TikTok ban (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Trump has paused the TikTok ban (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Official policy that there are ‘only two genders’

The order’s title reads: “Defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government.”

The policy recognizes ‘two sexes, male and female’ and states them as not being ‘changeable’ but ‘grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.

“Each agency and all Federal employees shall enforce laws governing sex-based rights, protections, opportunities, and accommodations to protect men and women as biologically distinct sexes.

“Agencies shall remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology, and shall cease issuing such statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications or other messages. Agency forms that require an individual’s sex shall list male or female, and shall not request gender identity. Agencies shall take all necessary steps, as permitted by law, to end the Federal funding of gender ideology.”

The order states the US will only recognize 'male' and 'female' (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The order states the US will only recognize ‘male’ and ‘female’ (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

‘Restoring’ death penalty

The order accuses Biden’s government and judges who oppose capital punishment of ‘efforts to subvert and undermine capital punishment defy the laws of [the] nation, make a mockery of justice, and insult the victims of these horrible crimes’.

Trump’s order states: “The Government’s most solemn responsibility is to protect its citizens from abhorrent acts, and my Administration will not tolerate efforts to stymie and eviscerate the laws that authorize capital punishment against those who commit horrible acts of violence against American citizens.”

The policy adds: “It is the policy of the United States to ensure that the laws that authorize capital punishment are respected and faithfully implemented, and to counteract the politicians and judges who subvert the law by obstructing and preventing the execution of capital sentences.”

Trump's order seeks to 'restore' the death penalty (Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Trump’s order seeks to ‘restore’ the death penalty (Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Ending radical and wasteful government diversity, equity and inclusion’ programs

The order states: “The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government, in areas ranging from airline safety to the military.

“[…] Pursuant to Executive Order 13985 and follow-on orders, nearly every Federal agency and entity submitted ‘Equity Action Plans’ to detail the ways that they have furthered DEIs infiltration of the Federal Government. The public release of these plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination. That ends today.

“Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great.”

Trump's administration also plans to scrap 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' programs (KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump’s administration also plans to scrap ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ programs (KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Reversing 78 of Biden’s ‘harmful’ executive actions

The executive order accuses the previous administration of embedding ‘deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government’.

It continues: “The injection of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) into our institutions has corrupted them by replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy.

“Orders to open the borders have endangered the American people and dissolved Federal, State, and local resources that should be used to benefit the American people.

Climate extremism has exploded inflation and overburdened businesses with regulation.”

The order accuses Biden's administration of 'radical practices' (Mandel Ngan - Pool/Getty Images)

The order accuses Biden’s administration of ‘radical practices’ (Mandel Ngan – Pool/Getty Images)

Pardoning Capitol Rioters

Under the section titled ‘Ending the Weaponization of the federal government,’ the White House’s page states: “The Department of Justice even jailed an individual for posting a political meme. And while the Department of Justice has ruthlessly prosecuted more than 1,500 individuals associated with January 6, and simultaneously dropped nearly all cases against BLM rioters. “

Trump accuses the past administration of ‘inflicting political pain’ rather than ‘pursuing actual justice or legitimate government objectives’ against Americans who ‘spoke out against previous administration’s actions and other Americans who were simply exercising constitutionally protected rights’.

The order links to a presidential action pardoning multiple individuals ‘convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, to time served as of January 20, 2025’ alongside granting ‘a full, complete or unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events’ on the same day too.

The White House’s website states: “This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation.”

Free speech and federal censorship

The White House’s website states: “Enshrines the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference.

“Over the last four years, the previous administration trampled free speech rights by censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms, often by exerting substantial coercive pressure on third parties, such as social media companies, to moderate, deplatform, or otherwise suppress speech that the Federal Government did not approve. Under the guise of combatting ‘misinformation,’ ‘disinformation,’ and ‘malinformation,’ the Federal Government infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States in a manner that advanced the Government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate.

:Government censorship of speech is intolerable in a free society.”

The White House website says the first amendment 'enshrines the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference' (John Keeble/Getty Images)

The White House website says the first amendment ‘enshrines the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference’ (John Keeble/Getty Images)

Blocking refugees

The order suspends the US Refugee Admissions Program ‘until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States’.

“The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security may jointly determine to admit aliens to the United States as refugees on a case-by-case basis, in their discretion, but only so long as they determine that the entry of such aliens as refugees is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States.” it says.

Limiting birthright citizenship

If a ‘person’s mother was unlawfully present in the US and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth’ or ‘when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States at the time of said person’s birth was lawful but temporary (such as, but not limited to, visiting the United States under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program or visiting on a student, work, or tourist visa) and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth’ then the person is not ‘automatically’ given the ‘priceless and profound gift’ of ‘the United States citizenship‘.

The order is suspending the US Refugee Admissions Program (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The order is suspending the US Refugee Admissions Program (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

‘Securing’ borders

The order states: “Over the last four years, the United States has endured a large-scale invasion at an unprecedented level. Millions of illegal aliens from nations and regions all around the world successfully entered the United States where they are now residing, including potential terrorists, foreign spies, members of cartels, gangs, and violent transnational criminal organizations, and other hostile actors with malicious intent.”

The order calls upon the Federal Government to ‘act with urgency and strength’ to secure the border and ‘protect the American people from the disastrous effects of unlawful mass migration and resettlement’ including constructing ‘temporary and permanent physical barriers’ and deploying personnel.

Protecting American people against invasion’

The order accuses Biden’s administration of letting ‘millions of illegal aliens’ cross the borders.

“Many of these aliens unlawfully within the United States present significant threats to national security and public safety, committing vile and heinous acts against innocent Americans. Others are engaged in hostile activities, including espionage, economic espionage, and preparations for terror-related activities.” it says.

“Many have abused the generosity of the American people, and their presence in the United States has cost taxpayers billions of dollars at the Federal, State, and local levels.

“Enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. The American people deserve a Federal Government that puts their interests first and a Government that understands its sacred obligation to prioritize the safety, security, and financial and economic well-being of Americans.”

The order calls for the Federal government to 'act with urgency and strength' when it comes to securing borders (John Moore/Getty Images)

The order calls for the Federal government to ‘act with urgency and strength’ when it comes to securing borders (John Moore/Getty Images)

‘Protecting the US from foreign terrorists’

The order seeks to tighten the ‘visa-issuance process’ to ‘ensure that those aliens approved for admission into the US do not intend to harm Americans’ or the ‘national interests’.

“More importantly, the United States must identify them before their admission or entry into the United States.”

‘Protecting the territorial integrity’ of the US

The order states plans to ‘seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States by repelling forms of invasion including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities’.

Cartels named as ‘foreign terrorist organizations’

The order states: “It is the policy of the United States to ensure the total elimination of these organizations’ presence in the United States and their ability to threaten the territory, safety, and security of the United States through their extraterritorial command-and-control structures, thereby protecting the American people and the territorial integrity of the United States.”

United States foreign aid

US foreign development assistance will be paused for 90 days and no assistance will be given until ascertained that its ‘fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the US’ and is ‘aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values’.

Trump's administration plans to name drug cartels as 'foreign terrorist organizations' (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump’s administration plans to name drug cartels as ‘foreign terrorist organizations’ (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

‘America first policy’

The order’s purpose and policy states: “From this day forward, the foreign policy of the United States shall champion core American interests and always put America and American citizens first.

“As soon as practicable, the Secretary of State shall issue guidance bringing the Department of State’s policies, programs, personnel, and operations in line with an America First foreign policy, which puts America and its interests first.”

‘Restoring accountability to policy-influencing positions’ in federal workforce

The White House’s website states: “Article II of the United States Constitution vests the President with the sole and exclusive authority over the executive branch, including the authority to manage the Federal workforce to ensure effective execution of Federal law.

“A critical aspect of this executive function is the responsibility to maintain professionalism and accountability within the civil service.

“This accountability is sorely lacking today. “

Punishing ‘election interference’

The order accuses ’51 former intelligence officials’ of coordinating with ‘the Biden campaign’ to ‘issue a letter discrediting the reporting that President Joseph R. Biden’s son had abandoned his laptop at a computer repair business’.

It then lists a number of individuals, revoking ‘any current or active clearances’ and reinforced anyone who holds ‘government-issued security clearances should not use their clearance status to influence US elections’.

One order accuses '51 former intelligence officials' of coordinating with the 'Biden campaign' (MELINA MARA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

One order accuses ’51 former intelligence officials’ of coordinating with the ‘Biden campaign’ (MELINA MARA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

US leaving the World Health Organization (WHO)

The order accuses who of ‘mishandling’ the COVID-19 pandemic alongside ‘other global health crises’.

The executive order continues: “The WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments.

“China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO.”

Withdrawing US from Paris climate agreement

The executive order argues the US has ended up involved in ‘international agreements and initiatives that do not reflect [the] country’s values or [its] contributions to the pursuit of economic and environmental objectives’.

“Moreover, these agreements steer American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not require, or merit, financial assistance in the interests of the American people,” it states.

Subsequently, it states its intentions for The United States Ambassador to the United Nations [to] immediately submit formal written notification of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’.

Trump accused WHO of 'mishandling' Covid-19 (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trump accused WHO of ‘mishandling’ Covid-19 (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

National energy emergency

The order accuses the ‘previous administration’ of having ‘driven [the] Nation into a national emergency, where a precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply, and an increasingly unreliable grid,’ the US now ‘requi[ring] swift and decisive action’.

Assessments will look at transportation and infrastructure alongside endangered species and the nation’s energy supply and clean water act.

‘Unleashing American energy’

The order accuses ‘burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations’ of ‘imped[ing] the development of’ America’s ‘abundance of energy and natural resources’ and limiting ‘the generation of reliable and affordable electricity, reduced job creation, and inflicted high energy costs upon our citizens’.

“These high energy costs devastate American consumers by driving up the cost of transportation, heating, utilities, farming, and manufacturing, while weakening our national security,” it adds.

One order is about 'restoring' American 'greatness' (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

One order is about ‘restoring’ American ‘greatness’ (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

‘Department of Government Efficiency’

“This Executive Order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency to implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”

‘Unleashing’ Alaska’s natural resources

The order plans to use Alaska’s ‘vast lands and resources’ for the benefit of the US, tapping into its ‘abundant’ supply of ‘energy, mineral, timber, and seafood’ to ‘raise the prosperity of our citizens while helping to enhance [the] Nation’s economic and national security for generations to come’ by creating ‘high-quality jobs’ and delivering ‘price relief’.

‘Restoring names that honor American greatness’

For example, the ‘renaming of Mount McKinley’ and the Gulf of America. The order states: “It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes.

“The naming of our national treasures, including breathtaking natural wonders and historic works of art, should honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans in our Nation’s rich past.”

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Featured Image Credit: Pool/Getty/Christopher Furlong/Getty

Topics: Donald TrumpUS NewsCelebrity

Elon Musk speaks out after being accused of giving 'Nazi salute' at Trump rally

Elon Musk speaks out after being accused of giving ‘Nazi salute’ at Trump rally

The Tesla CEO appeared to make an offensive gesture

Liv Bridge

Liv Bridge

Elon Musk has spoken out after being accused of giving a ‘Nazi salute’ during Donald Trump’s inauguration.

On Monday (January 20), Donald Trump was officially sworn into the White House as the 47th President of the United States and for his second term since 2021.

The President made a raft of promises during his inauguration speech as he vowed the ‘golden age of America begins’ with his term.

However, during his inauguration celebration, the Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder, Musk, appeared to make a ‘Nazi salute’ in the Capitol One Arena, Washington, ahead of the Inauguration Day parade.

Musk made the awkward gesture inside the Capitol One Arena during the inauguration (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Musk made the awkward gesture inside the Capitol One Arena during the inauguration (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

The 53-year-old appeared to be thrilled about the prospect of sending a man to Mars and planting an American flag, during which the Twitter owner thumped his chest and shot his right arm out towards the sky.

The billionaire tech mogul commented: “Thank you for making it happen. Thank you, my heart goes out to you,” before turning back to the audience and repeating the bizarre gesture towards the American flag.

The move sparked controversy online with many describing the gesture as akin to a fascist salute or ‘odd-looking’, such as CNN anchors, Erin Burnett and Kasie Hunt, reports The Independent.

Hunt noted the move was ‘evocative of things that we have seen through history’ and ‘not something you typically see at American rallies’.

Others on Twitter accused Musk of making a ‘Sieg Heil’ as ‘clear as day’, while others said the move was indefensible and couldn’t have been a mistake or accident seen as as he ‘did it twice’.

However, the Anti-Defamation League, the antisemitism watchdog, has since defended Musk, writing on Twitter: “It seems that [Musk] make an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people on on edge.”

Elon Musk accused of ‘Nazi salute’ during inauguration
PBS NewsHour/YouTube
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The statement added: “This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety.

“In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.”

US Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez snapped back to the New York-based group: “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity.

“People can officially stop listening to you as any sort of reputable source of information now. You work for them. Thank you for making that crystal clear to all.”

What has Elon Musk said about the gesture?

Now, Musk himself appears to have spoken out amid the backlash, writing in response that Ocasio-Cortex has ‘just 100 percent lost her marbles’.

Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term yesterday (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term yesterday (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

Another user jumped to his defense, writing: “Can we please retire the calling people a Nazi thing? It didn’t work during the election, it’s not working now, it’s tired, boring, and old material, you’ve burned out its effect, people don’t feel shocked by it anymore, the wolf has been cried too many times.”

Musk responded with a ‘yeah exactly’ and a yawn emoji.

“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks,” he wrote in a follow-up. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”

Musk was also the subject of social media chatter earlier in the day when Trump commented on America’s goal to send a person to Mars, during which Musk gave an enthusiastic thumbs up next to a less-than-impressed Barron Trump.

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Featured Image Credit: ANGELA WEISS/Getty

Topics: Elon MuskDonald TrumpSpace XTeslaMarsPoliticsSocial MediaUS NewsAlexandria Ocasio-CortezRacism

Man found terrifying sign while deep underwater cave diving

Man found terrifying sign while deep underwater cave diving

Its message was crystal clear

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

A chilling life-saving moment was documented by a deep sea diver exploring a Mexican cave.

The scuba diver, who goes by TomCat686 on YouTube, was diving in an extremely dark part of the cenote cave.

Along with other divers in his party, he came equipped with a torch and shone the light around the cave when he came across something unexpected.

His fellow diver was the first to go over to a small picket spot the sign and, as Tom swam closer to it, its message became clear. Take a look:

Diver discovers eerie underwater sign
Credits: TomCat686/YouTube
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Alongside an image of the Grim Reaper, it read the words ‘STOP’ in large, bold lettering.

The sign continued: “PREVENT YOUR DEATH! GO NO FARTHER.”

It proceeded to list some facts about the dangers of deep sea diving as a further deterrent.

“FACT: More than 300 divers, including open water instructors, have died in caves just like this one,” the first one read.

“FACT: You needed training to dive, you NEED cave training and cave equipment to cave dive.

“FACT: Without cave training and cave equipment Divers CAN die here.

“FACT: It CAN happen to YOU!!!”

It concluded that there was ‘nothing in this cave worth dying for’ as it doubled down on point that you shouldn’t dive past that point.

The sign's message was extremely clear.

TomCat686/YouTube

The video was shared back in May 2012 and has since generated almost 3.5 million views.

People have gone on to applaud the unknown person for putting the sign there and probably saving dozens of lives.

“Props to the folk who put the sign there, literally saving lives for the curious souls,” one person said.

“Huge props to that guy who saved numerous scuba divers’ lives by putting up that sign,” echoed a second.

Another added: “We must commend the soul who went down there and posted that sign, never realized how dangerous cave diving was until just now.”

Around 100 divers die in the US each year.

Maël BALLAND/Pexels

While the sign issued a very important message, others described it as ‘eerie’.

One individual penned: “This sign is one of the eeriest things I’ve ever seen. It definitely hits hard. I’m getting chills and I’m just standing in my house, miles away from the nearest coastline.”

“Must send chills down your spine to read that down there no matter how experienced you are,” agreed another.

Meanwhile, another YouTube user compared the ‘surreal’ warning to ‘like reaching the edge of a map in a video game’.

While it’s pretty eerie, it’s definitely not a sign you’d want to ignore.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/TomCat686

Topics: LifeNewsViralYouTube

Family sues for nearly $1,000,000 after man's face caught on fire during surgery while he was ‘awake and conscious'

Family sues for nearly $1,000,000 after man’s face caught on fire during surgery while he was ‘awake and conscious’

John Michael Murdoch had been undergoing surgery relating to a cancer diagnosis when the alleged incident took place

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

The family of a man who had been diagnosed with cancer is suing an Oregon hospital for almost $1,000,000 after his face allegedly caught fire while he lay awake for a surgery.

John Michael Murdoch visited the Oregon Health & Science University to undergo surgery in December 2022, after he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer in his tongue called squamous cell carcinoma.

Murdoch was set to undergo a tracheostomy, which would create a hole in his neck for him to breathe through, but his face allegedly caught fire when a spark from a surgical tool ignited alcohol which was being used for the procedure.

One of the surgeons has been named in the lawsuit (Getty Stock Photo)

One of the surgeons has been named in the lawsuit (Getty Stock Photo)

Now Murdoch’s wife, Toni Murdoch, has filed a $900,000 lawsuit which claims the tool had a history of sparking and that the spark was fueled by the use of oxygen and unevaporated isopropyl alcohol.

According to the lawsuit, Murdoch was ‘awake and conscious’ when the fire broke out. The patient suffered scars, swelling and wounds to his face due to the alleged incident, the lawsuit also claims.

Though he was unable to speak clearly at the time, his wife says he was able to express the trauma he went through.

Murdoch lived with his wounds for six months before he died of his cancer in June 2023.

Ron Cheng, the lawyer who filed the lawsuit last month, said to The Oregionian the alleged incident is one that ‘never should have happened’.

A spokesperson for the Oregon Health & Science University, and the physician listed in the lawsuit, Dr. Adam Howard, have declined to respond to the matter due to patient privacy laws.

Murdoch passed away in June 2023 (Family Handout)

Murdoch passed away in June 2023 (Family Handout)

Records from Oregon Medical Board show Howard became licensed to practice medicine in Oregon in 2022, The Oregonian further reports.

In January 2024, Howard’s medical license switched to ‘Lapsed’ status.

Though Cheng has argued the incident should have ‘never happened’, the Emergency Care Research Institute has reported that an estimated 90 to 100 surgical fires take place in the United States each year.

The Joint Commission, an organization which works to improve patient safety, has warned of three elements which can increase the risk of a fire: oxygen, ignition sources and fuel.

Toni Murdoch’s lawsuit alleges all three of these elements were present when the fire started.

As well as his wife, the Oregon man is survived by his parents, step-children, brother, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews.

UNILAD has reached out to the Oregon Health & Science University for additional comment.

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