A story about a patient who sparked a fire and was seriously burned during surgery when she passed gas on the operating table is going viral on social media and making headlines around the world.
News outlets including New York Daily News, Esquire, USA Today, and more have shared the story that is making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter.
The incident took place during an operation at the Tokyo Medical University Hospital in the Shinjuku Ward on April 15.
The Asahi Shimbun, an English news site based in Japan, reports that the patient was in surgery, having a laser applied to her cervix, when her flatulence sparked a fire. The patient suffered burns to her waist and legs.
Experts investigated the incident to find out what could have caused the fire.
They released their findings on October 28, 2016.
“When the patient’s intestinal gas leaked into the space of the operation (room), it ignited with the irradiation of the laser, and the burning spread, eventually reaching the surgical drape and causing the fire,” the report said.
Experts say there were no flammable materials in the operation room at the time of her surgery. They also said that everything was functioning normally.
Even the website Snopes.com has confirmed the unbelievable story. The patient's current condition was not released in the reports.
