Cancer patient on fire during surgery in Romania

The surgeons at Floreasca Hospital in Bucharest used an alcohol-based disinfectant on the 66-year-old woman before conducting a pancreatic cancer operation on 22 December.

But then they used an electric scalpel, which, when exposed to alcohol, caused the woman's body to burn at the operating table.

She suffered burns at 40% of her body and died in the hospital a week later.

Police have launched an investigation into the woman's death.

The victim's family told Romanian media that doctors did not tell him the importance of the situation and details of what had happened, saying it was only an accident.

“We are not making accusations, we just want to understand what happened,”- they expressed themselves.

Health Minister Victor Costache promised to investigate the traumatic incident.

“Cirugs should be aware that it is forbidden to use an alcohol-based disinfectant during surgical procedures conducted with an electric scalpel,” to replace Minister Horatiu Moldovan. /oranews/