The family of John Michael Murdoch, a 52-year-old man from Oregon, has filed a lawsuit against Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Hospital in Portland, seeking $900,000 in damages after Murdoch suffered severe burns when his face caught fire during surgery. The incident occurred in December 2022 while Murdoch was undergoing a procedure as part of his treatment for squamous cell carcinoma, a form of tongue cancer.
Murdoch had been admitted to the hospital for a tracheostomy, a procedure that involves the insertion of a breathing tube into the throat. In preparation for the surgery, his face was swabbed with isopropyl alcohol to sterilize the area. However, the alcohol was not given enough time to dry, and when it came into contact with a surgical tool that emitted a spark, his face caught on fire. The fire caused severe burns to Murdoch’s face, leading to disfiguring scars and other traumatic wounds that never fully healed before his death in June 2023. Although the burns were not cited as the direct cause of death, the lawsuit claims that Murdoch suffered greatly in the months following the incident.
The lawsuit also alleges that Murdoch was “awake and conscious” during the fire, unable to speak but still able to express his pain and discomfort. His widow, Toni Murdoch, retained attorney Ron Cheng to represent the family in the legal action. Cheng stated that the fire was a “never event” a term used to describe incidents that should never occur in medical settings. The lawsuit names Dr. Adam Howard, the physician responsible for the procedure, as well as OHSU Hospital and 10 unnamed members of the surgical staff.
According to the lawsuit, the operating room conditions were at risk of fire due to the presence of oxygen, ignition sources, and fuel, a situation referred to as the “fire triangle.” This concept, highlighted in a 2023 alert by the Joint Commission, a healthcare safety organization, underscores the potential dangers of fire in surgical environments. The tool that allegedly ignited the fire was reportedly known to have a history of sparking, further raising concerns about the safety protocols in place during the procedure.
Murdoch’s family is seeking compensation for the pain and suffering he endured as a result of the incident. The lawsuit emphasizes the traumatic impact of the burns, which left Murdoch with lifelong disfigurement. The family is holding both the hospital and the medical staff accountable for what they believe was a preventable tragedy.
A spokesperson for OHSU declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing patient privacy concerns. Dr. Howard’s medical license had lapsed in January 2024, although he is now practicing in West Virginia, where his license remains active. The hospital has not provided any further details about the incident or the ongoing legal proceedings. The case has sparked broader discussions about surgical safety and the measures that should be in place to prevent such devastating events from occurring.
