Medical errors involving the mistaken removal of healthy organs, particularly kidneys, have devastating consequences for patients, as highlighted by two recent cases in France and the United States. Such incidents underscore critical failures in surgical protocols and patient safety measures.

In July of this year, a 77-year-old man underwent an oncology procedure at Henri Mondor Hospital in Créteil, near Paris, intended to remove a cancerous kidney. However, surgeons mistakenly removed his healthy kidney, leaving him with only the diseased one. This error occurred despite the patient correctly completing the pre-surgery checklist with medical staff. While the patient's life is not immediately in danger, his prognosis is significantly worsened due to relying on a single, compromised kidney. His family has initiated legal action against Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), the entity managing the Parisian hospital, which declined to comment citing medical confidentiality.

A similar, equally alarming case was reported earlier this year in the United States, involving an 84-year-old American woman named Wendy Rappaport. She is suing a Minnesota hospital after surgeons mistakenly removed her healthy left kidney instead of her spleen, the intended surgical target. This grave error has left Ms. Rappaport requiring dialysis and she has since been diagnosed with the most severe form of kidney disease. Without both functioning kidneys, her body cannot properly filter waste and excess fluid, placing her at risk of life-threatening complications and organ failure, which could potentially be fatal within years. Spleen removal, typically a routine procedure, demands a precise hand due to its close proximity to the kidneys.

These incidents bring attention to the broader issue of kidney health and cancer. Kidney cancer is a significant health concern, with approximately 13,000 new cases and 4,709 deaths annually in the UK alone. Australian model Natasha Oakley and NBA legend Dwyane Wade are among public figures who have openly discussed their diagnoses with kidney cancer.

Awareness of kidney cancer symptoms is crucial for early detection and improved survival rates. Common symptoms include blood in urine, persistent pain between the ribs and waist, unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite, a lump or swelling in the back, under the ribs, or in the neck, fatigue, and recurrent fever or excessive sweating. Catching these signs early allows for more effective treatment options and the best chance of survival, with treatment plans depending on the cancer's stage at diagnosis. Risk factors for kidney cancer, according to Cancer Research UK, include smoking, obesity, exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, and genetic predispositions.