An unusual incident occurred in Skopje, involving a Kosovar man who faced a significant medical error during surgery. Remzi Toçilla, from the city of Ferizaj, had scheduled an appointment at a private clinic in Skopje to undergo surgery on his left knee. After experiencing ongoing issues with his knee, he decided to seek medical assistance abroad, Euronews Albania reports.
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| Screenshot of Remzi Toçilla in an online interview for a local media |
Following the surgery, Remzi Toçilla, still under the effects of anesthesia, noticed something was wrong. Instead of feeling pain in his left knee, he felt pain in his right knee. This prompted him to question the doctors. "After the operation, I returned to my room. Once the anesthesia wore off, I realized it wasn’t my left knee but my right knee that had been operated on. I asked the doctor, 'What happened? I came to operate on my left knee. What is this?' He told me, 'Because you were trying to protect your left knee, you damaged your right knee, so I decided to operate on it,'" Toçilla recounted.
The situation took an unexpected turn when Toçilla’s wife and brother, who were waiting outside, learned of the mistake. They were all in shock. Recognizing the error, the hospital representatives offered to perform the surgery on his left knee for free, but Toçilla refused. Seeking a second opinion, he consulted another doctor, who informed him that he had not needed surgery on either knee.
"I consulted with another doctor. He told me that fortunately, they didn’t damage your right knee. They tried to do something but achieved nothing. Your knee is in the same condition. They improvised more than anything. I advise you not to proceed with any further surgical intervention," Toçilla explained.
Having paid 1700 euros for the surgery, Toçilla found himself not only unhealed but also compelled to spend more money on legal fees to seek justice. The private hospital has refused to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
The case has sparked discussions on the accountability and oversight of private medical facilities, highlighting the need for stringent protocols to prevent such errors and ensure patient safety.