Glass v Cambridge Health Authority

(1995) 6 Med LR 91

QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION

and Mr Justice RIX

Professional liability — Anaesthesia — Exploratory laparotomy — Pulse oximeter alarmed — Anaesthetist checking ECG machine and switching pulse oximeter off on basis that it was false alarm — Cleaning of wound with hydrogen peroxide — Patient suffering cardiac arrest whilst still under anaesthesia — Whether res ipsa loquitur applied — Whether negligence on part of anaesthetist established — Whether cardiac arrest was caused not by hypoxia, but gas embolism resulting from use of hydrogen peroxide — Evidence — Res ipsa loquitur — Evidential burden on defendant