Man's face caught on fire during surgery, Oregon hospital files lawsuit Oregon

The family of an Oregon man is seeking $900,000 from a hospital after his face caught fire during surgery while he was reportedly awake.

The allegations are included in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by John Michael Murdock's wife against Oregon Health & Science University, The Oregonian reported. The lawsuit alleges that Murdoch's ordeal occurred while undergoing surgery in 2022 during treatment for squamous cell carcinoma, a type of tongue cancer. The lawsuit alleges that medical staff failed to allow an alcohol swab on his face to dry sufficiently, and his face caught fire.

The lawsuit recounts that Murdoch's surgery was a tracheotomy, or a procedure in which a breathing tube is inserted into the throat. To disinfect him for surgery, he was swabbed with isopropyl alcohol. But the alcohol didn't dry completely, and sparks from the surgical tools ignited his skin, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit, seen by The Oregonian, says Murdock was “awake and conscious” at the time of the fire, which was fueled by oxygen and isopropyl alcohol that didn't evaporate. The tool has a history of producing sparks, the lawsuit says.

Murdoch survived six months after surgery but died in June 2023. His obituary stated that he was 52 years old.

“This is something that 'never' happened,” Ron Cheng, an attorney for Murdoch's widow Toni, who filed the lawsuit in December, told The Oregonian. “This should never have happened.”

Cheng said that while Murdoch's surgical accident did not kill him, he was left with disfiguring scars, swelling and wounds that would not heal.

Cheng told the outlet that while Murdoch was unable to speak clearly at the time, he was still able to convey to his wife the trauma he suffered from the burns.

A spokesman for Oregon Health & Science University declined to comment to The Oregonian, citing patient privacy laws. Defendants in the lawsuit are the hospital; Dr. Adam Howard, a physician whose medical license expired in January 2024; and 10 unnamed operating personnel.

A spokesman for the hospital also reportedly said Howard could not comment on the lawsuit, again citing patient privacy laws.

The American College of Surgeons noted last year that operating rooms have “perfect fire conditions” due to ignition sources, oxygen and fuel. According to the American College of Surgeons, approximately 70% of surgical fires in the United States are caused by electrosurgical equipment, with 75% of cases related to oxygen-rich environments. Alcohol-based skin preparations are also “a common source of fuel that is not allowed to completely evaporate during surgical fires.”

From January 1, 2018, to March 29, 2023, The Joint Commission, an independent agency that accredits hospitals, received 85 alert incidents related to fires or burns in surgeries or procedures.

Healthcare facilities can reduce the risk of fires by establishing processes and procedures that prevent dangerous interactions between oxygen, ignition sources and fuels, the American College of Surgeons writes. This includes providing training to staff on how to avoid and manage fires and keeping local oxygen concentrations below 30% wherever possible.