John
02-14-2010, 01:48 PM
A prosthetics expert in who gave an elderly patient two left feet by fitting the wrong artificial limb has been struck off.
Patrick Morrison was looking forward to walking properly again with a new prosthetic foot after his right limb had to be amputated.
Mr Morrison, 76, of Bathgate, West Lothian, found himself leaning to one side but thought it was part of the breaking-in process.
So he was devastated when he discovered that prosthetist Malcolm Griffiths had given him a second left foot, reports the Daily Mirror.
The grandfather only spotted the blunder five months on from the operation when wife Alexia, 75, removed the fake limb's protective sock.
To make matters worse, the specialist failed to notice the extraordinary gaffe during two separate check-ups - or that he had given him a size 8 instead of a size 9.
Mr Morrison said: "Me and my wife got a big surprise. You just don't expect this kind of thing to happen."
The pensioner's ordeal began when he had to have his big toe amputated three years ago. The wound became infected with MRSA and he later lost his right foot.
He got his new artificial limb at the Smart disability centre at Edinburgh's Astley Ainslie Hospital.
Now, Mr Griffiths, who racked up 10 other complaints from patients, has agreed to be struck off by watchdog the Health Professions Council.
Patrick Morrison was looking forward to walking properly again with a new prosthetic foot after his right limb had to be amputated.
Mr Morrison, 76, of Bathgate, West Lothian, found himself leaning to one side but thought it was part of the breaking-in process.
So he was devastated when he discovered that prosthetist Malcolm Griffiths had given him a second left foot, reports the Daily Mirror.
The grandfather only spotted the blunder five months on from the operation when wife Alexia, 75, removed the fake limb's protective sock.
To make matters worse, the specialist failed to notice the extraordinary gaffe during two separate check-ups - or that he had given him a size 8 instead of a size 9.
Mr Morrison said: "Me and my wife got a big surprise. You just don't expect this kind of thing to happen."
The pensioner's ordeal began when he had to have his big toe amputated three years ago. The wound became infected with MRSA and he later lost his right foot.
He got his new artificial limb at the Smart disability centre at Edinburgh's Astley Ainslie Hospital.
Now, Mr Griffiths, who racked up 10 other complaints from patients, has agreed to be struck off by watchdog the Health Professions Council.