Botched surgery benches prep star

[Dawg04]

Botched surgery benches prep star
2002-11-01
By Mike Strain
The Oklahoman


As Keith Smith awoke from surgery, he noticed
pain that accompanies most medical procedures. He
also noticed an alarming problem.
The pain that should have been shooting through
his left foot was in his right foot.

"They operated on the wrong foot," said Smith, a
Putnam City senior who is one of the best high
school basketball players in Oklahoma. "They
didn`t even know they messed up until I woke up
and told them."

Smith, who committed this summer to play
basketball for Colorado, said he had surgery
Wednesday at OU Medical Center to remove a small
bone from his left heel.

"We deeply regret this situation," OU Medical
Center spokesman Allen Poston said.

The procedure was expected to leave Smith
sidelined from basketball about 4-6 weeks. Now,
Smith says it could be two months before he can
return to basketball. And even then, his career --
apparently not in jeopardy -- is surrounded by
questions.

"Who knows if this foot even recovers?" said
Smith. "There wasn`t anything wrong with it in
the first place. "They took a bone out of this
one. I`m like, Man, where, did that bone come
from? I might have needed that."

The questions don`t end with basketball and feet.

"We`re in the process of seeking legal advice,"
said Smith`s mother, Michelle Smith.

Keith Smith, 17, said that before surgery, the
letter X was marked on his left foot, denoting
the foot on which to be operated. But Smith said
he was told by the surgeon who performed the
procedure, there was confusion about the X.

"He said he thought the X meant don`t cut," said
Smith.

Smith`s surgeon declined comment, citing patient
confidentiality laws.

For the same reason, Poston also refused comment
on the specifics of the case, but said were
actively investigating this incident and actions
will be taken to implement changes if needed.

Among the immediate issues concerning Smith are
his playing career this season at Putnam City,
and his future at Colorado. Smith said he`s
talked to coaches at Colorado and was told they
will honor his scholarship offer. Smith said he
will sign with the Buffaloes on Nov. 13, the
first day of the week-long early signing period.

"They were real startled it happened," said Keith
Smith. "But it didn`t jeopardize my scholarship.

"They`re trying to do anything they can to help,
too. They`re baffled by the whole thing."

As for his immediate playing career, Smith said
he would let his right foot heal and then play
the remainder of the season.

"But I`m still going to be forced to get the
other (foot) done, too," Smith said. "They were
offering to do it immediately, after they messed
up the right one. I wouldn`t let them.

"I`ll probably wait until this one heals up. "

Smith, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 15.2 points
and 7.4 rebounds per game last year and helped
Putnam City to the Class 6A state championship.
The Pirates open this season Dec. 3 at Midwest
City.

Even if Smith hadn`t been fully healed from
surgery by then, it would have been pretty close
to Dec. 3, said his mother, who is a registered
nurse at the OU Health Sciences Center.

"I`m just baffled, said Michelle Smith. "I don`t
see how this could happen. I`m angry. We`re
upset ... in disbelief."

The same way Keith Smith felt when he awoke from
surgery.

"I`m like startled," Keith Smith said. "I`m
thinking I`m still dreaming, because I`m still
sedated. I`m thinking, Dang, this ain`t
happening. It was supposed to be on my left foot.

"It`s just shocking."

[Gooddawg]

I remember him posting that story. What a nightmare. I'm glad he's recovered and can still play. Hope he will help the dawgs this year. We are going to need all the help we can get with this schedule.

[Tech77]

Shoulda signed with OU. (JK)

[Bigdog13]

I'm sending this to all of my UT friends. This is classic.