Surgeon blames defective surgical staple gun for man’s death

A MAN who underwent a routine operation to remove a substantial tumour from his large intestine died from septicaemia due to the malfunction of a surgical instrument, an inquest heard yesterday.

Anthony O’Reilly, 50, of Ballyfallon, Athboy, Co. Meath, died at James Connolly Memorial Hospital on July 13, 2006, three days after a routine operation to remove a large tumour from his rectum, the Dublin County Coroner’s Court heard.

Consultant surgeon at the hospital Eadhbhard Mulligan, who carried out the operation, told the court yesterday that he believed there was an issue with one of the staplers he had used.