In a shocking and tragic incident, an Oregon man battling tongue cancer experienced a horrifying surgical mishap that left him permanently disfigured in his final months. John Michael Murdoch, 51, underwent a routine tracheostomy procedure in December 2022 at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to help manage complications from squamous cell carcinoma, a form of tongue cancer. But the procedure took a terrifying turn when a surgical tool caused a spark, igniting alcohol on Murdoch’s face—while he was still awake and conscious.
The lawsuit, filed recently by attorney Ron Cheng, claims Murdoch suffered immense trauma from the fire, which left severe scarring that he carried until his death in June 2023 at age 52. “This is a ‘never’ event — it never should have happened,” Cheng told The Oregonian, underscoring the gravity of the incident.
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A Preventable Tragedy
The lawsuit details how the fire began: a surgical instrument known for sparking during use ignited oxygen and unevaporated isopropyl alcohol on Murdoch’s face. The result was catastrophic. The flames left visible scars and deep emotional wounds for Murdoch, who struggled to convey the extent of his trauma to his wife, Toni, due to his inability to speak clearly after the incident.
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