THE family of a Midlothian woman, who died in hospital after a breast cancer operation, told a court today how her surgeon suggested they consult a lawyer.
Marlene Wightman, 49, died in the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh on March 23, 2006, after an operation to remove her left breast.
At a Fatal Accident Inquiry in Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Mrs Wightman's husband, Thomas, her son John an
d daughter Lisa said in evidence that Mrs Wightman's surgeon, Michael Dickson, had told them to consult a lawyer.
They said he told them he was very sorry for their loss. He was very upset as he had never lost a patient before. They said he added he could accept someone bleeding to death outside a hospital, but never in a hospital.
Mrs Wightman, who was described as "the heart of the family", was admitted to the Western on March 21 and operated on the following day.
The family went to visit her that evening. They found her in some pain and her husband described how she "pressed the morphine button twice" to alleviate the pain.
The family said they left Mrs Wightman just after 8pm. At about midnight, her husband received a call from the hospital asking him to come in immediately.
The family waited in a room opposite Mrs Wightman's room and could see doctors and nurses treating her because of a reflection on the glass of a painting in the room they were in.
At about 1.30am on March 23, a doctor, who they said was visibly upset, told them they had not been able to save her.
The family returned to the hospital after 10am that day. They were visited in a waiting room by Mr Dickson and "a lady". They said he expressed his sorrow and told them this was the first patient he had lost. He also said he had never seen anyone die from bleeding to death in a hospital before and began crying.
John Wightman told the inquiry: "The lady seemed to be trying to shut him up. She was trying to keep him quiet."
Mr Wightman said the lady told Mr Dickson he had given them far too much information, but the surgeon said if he had been called he could have saved her life.
John and Lisa told the court that Mr Dickson told them "he was an honest doctor and they should get a lawyer". They said he added that no-one had shown him compassion when his father had died and he wanted to show them compassion.
The inquiry, which is expected to last two weeks, was adjourned until tomorrow.
The full article contains 449 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
