Patient lost leg after 'botched surgery'

The Health and Disability Commissioner is investigating the case of a Westport woman who says she lost her leg after a botched knee replacement.

Chris Townrow, 48, told the Press she gradually lost movement and feeling in her leg after the operation last November. However it took West Coast doctors four days to seek a second opinion.

On arrival at Christchurch Hospital, Ms Townrow was told the surgeon, Robert Coup, had badly damaged an artery at the back of her leg.

Mr Coup, has since left the country and is understood to be working in the United States.

Ms Townrow was told by Christchurch surgeons her leg may have been saved if she had been in Christchurch the day after the operation.

In a complaint to the West Coast District Health Board, Ms Townrow said she believed that had she been referred for a second opinion sooner, she would not have lost her leg.

"As I was continually being monitored by doctors and nurses, I am surprised a decision to do further assessments didn't happen sooner," she said.

West Coast health bosses have admitted they took too long to get a second opinion after it became apparent there were complications, and have apologised.

- NZPA