One-Year-Old Loses Fingertip After Nurse's Scissors Slip
A one-year-old boy's fingertip was accidentally severed by a nurse's scissors while being treated at a provincial hospital in Thailand; surgeons partially reattached it, but full recovery remains uncertain.
A one-year-old boy's family has come forward after their son's fingertip was accidentally severed by a nursing aide at a provincial hospital. While the child was being treated for cold and flu symptoms, an intravenous line was placed in his right hand and secured with gauze. When the aide attempted to remove the gauze with scissors, the instrument slipped and cut off the tip of the boy's index finger down to the nail bed. The child was rushed to a hospital in Ubon Ratchathani province, over 100 kilometers away, for emergency finger-reattachment surgery.
The family, represented by relatives speaking to a local Facebook community page on September 13, 2025, said they remain distressed by the incident and have received no formal apology from the nursing aide or hospital. The accident occurred as the boy was being discharged after completing his treatment. Initial X-rays and blood work were performed, and the severed fingertip was placed on ice before transfer to Ubon Ratchathani. Surgeons performed two operations; the first was unsuccessful, but the second achieved reattachment at approximately 20-30 percent viability. Due to the child's small size and underdeveloped blood vessels, doctors cannot yet confirm whether full function will be restored. The boy remains hospitalized in Ubon Ratchathani with throat pain from surgery and is unable to eat normally.
The father reported that his son's condition has improved and spirits are recovering. Hospital staff visited the previous day, bringing flowers and 4,000 baht described as fuel and hotel allowance for relatives, as the hospital does not permit family to stay overnight. However, the father declined the money, which remains on the bedside table. The family initially filed a report with Lerna Nok Ta Police Station but were advised to negotiate directly with the hospital first. No formal discussions have yet taken place. The father is seeking full compensation and care as appropriate for his son's injury, and plans to pursue the matter further once the child's condition stabilizes. Relatives have also noted that other patients have suffered from medical errors at the facility, with some resulting in death but receiving only 10,000 baht in compensation, suggesting the hospital requires better safety protocols.
