Manama: Kuwait's health ministry has denied local media reports that the healthy leg of a Kuwaiti man had been erroneously amputated.
The patient was admitted to the Mubarak Hospital on Tuesday after being transferred from the Amiri Hospital where he had received treatment since May 12, Dr Ebrahim Abdul Hadi, the ministry's undersecretary told Kuwait News agency (Kuna).
Medical tests showed that the patient's lower limbs, particularly his right leg, were affected by poor blood circulation which prompted the medical team in charge of the case to perform surgery. The patient was fully aware of the course of treatment and its consequences, Abdulhadi said.
Only option
According to the official, the numerous steps by the medical team to restore the blood circulation to the affected leg were unsuccessful and the only option for surgeons was a partial amputation of one section of the man's foot in order to avoid further and more severe medical complications.
The official said that the patient who was not identified had opted to leave the hospital, despite being advised against it by medical experts who fear that it could lead to further potentially dangerous complications.
Al Abdul Hadi said the case would be referred to the Supreme Medical Committee to determine whether the patient should be sent for medical treatment overseas.