Oregon man’s face caught on fire in surgery when he was ‘awake and conscious’, lawsuit claims

The family of an Oregon man whose face caught fire during surgery while he was “awake and conscious” is suing the hospital where the incident occurred for nearly $1 million.

John Michael Murdoch, then 51, underwent a tracheostomy – a procedure to create a breathing hole in his neck – in December 2022 after he was diagnosed with tongue cancer.

According to the lawsuit, alcohol was applied to Mr. Murdoch’s face to prepare his skin for the procedure, but the skin was not completely dry before doctors at Oregon Health & Science University began the surgery.

As Mr. Murdoch lay awake on the operating table, a surgical instrument emitted a spark. It inflamed and burned his skin, leaving him with “disfiguring scars and traumatic wounds.”

While this was happening, the lawsuit claims Murdoch was “awake and conscious.”

It is alleged in court documents seen by Oregon Live that he could not speak clearly at the time, but that he was able to convey the discomfort and pain he was experiencing from his burns to his wife – although she did not say exactly how.

He lived for six months after the incident, with cancer listed as the final cause of death in June 2023.

It is estimated that 90 to 100 surgical fires occur annually in the US and in most cases the incidents are preventable. However, many are believed to fall under the radar, and there is no national database documenting the cases.

John Michael Murdoch, then 51, was undergoing a tracheostomy – a procedure to create a breathing hole in his neck – when he reportedly suffered surgical burns

Your browser does not support iframes.

Although the burns from the surgical fire were not cited as a cause of death, the lawsuit claims that Mr. Murdoch endured great suffering and that his wounds never fully healed before he died.

According to the lawsuit, the instrument used during his surgery had a history of arcing.

The fire started after sparks combined with oxygen and the highly flammable isopropyl alcohol, which had not yet completely evaporated from Mr Murdoch’s face.

The colorless liquid is often used to disinfect the skin before surgery, but surgeons are advised to allow sufficient drying time to avoid the possibility of fire.

Ron Cheng, the Murdoch family’s attorney, claimed the fire damage “should never have happened.”

A spokesperson for Oregon Health & Science University did not provide comment to The Oregonian, which originally reviewed the court documents, citing patient privacy.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices reports that approximately 30 surgical fires per year cause disfiguring or disabling injuries to patients.

One or two of these fires result in fatalities, usually when they ignite a patient’s airways and leave them unable to breathe.

The lawsuit charges Dr. Adam Howard listed as a defendant.

It is estimated that 90 to 100 surgical fires occur annually in the US and in most cases the incidents are preventable (Stock Image)

According to an investigation by Oregon Live, Dr.’s medical license changed. Howard to ‘expired’ status about a year after Mr Murdoch’s face was allegedly set on fire.

While the OHSU website still lists him as a staff member, he appears to work in West Virginia, where his license is active, and also appears to be an assistant professor at West Virginia University.

Together with Dr. Howard also lists Oregon Health & Science University as a defendant, as well as ten unnamed surgical employees.

Murdoch’s obituary shows that he worked at an auto parts store for many years.

Besides trucks and motorcycles, camping, fishing and “playing poker with his friends” are listed as his other passions.

It concludes: ‘John is survived by his wife Toni, parents, stepchildren, brother and sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and a lifetime of friends.’