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A man whose spleen had to be removed after an accident during surgery faces an increased risk of contracting coronavirus, but says ACC will not support him.
Tony Stout lives in a trailer park in Richmond and said the medical misadventure left him with compromised immunity and an increased risk of complications from the coronavirus.
He has asked ACC for support to make sure it is set up for self-isolation if necessary, but his request for a chemical toilet and permanent shower has been rejected.
MARTIN DE RUYTER / THINGS
Tony Stout’s spleen had to be removed after it was severed during surgery, he now has a compromised immune system and fears he will not be able to isolate himself if Covid-19 circulated in the community.
Last September, the 62-year-old man underwent laparoscopic surgery to repair a hiatal hernia and treat gastroesophageal reflux disease at Nelson Hospital.
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His spleen was accidentally cut during surgery and doctors were unable to prevent it from bleeding, leading to Stout needing an emergency splenectomy.
“I almost died a couple of times at the table, I lost so much blood.
MARTIN DE RUYTER / THINGS
Tony Stout wants ACC to recognize that his risk of contracting Covid-19 is higher after his spleen was damaged and removed while he was in surgery. You want a bath and shower at your caravan site, so you can isolate yourself if necessary.
“They cut off my spleen and they couldn’t stop it from bleeding, so they had to remove it.”
He needed a blood transfusion and spent 12 days in the hospital recovering. A treatment injury lawsuit was filed with the ACC before Stout was discharged.
Stout said that as a result of losing his spleen, his immunity was compromised. That was shown after he recently had a chest infection for eight weeks and struggled to recover despite taking antibiotics.
“It is the first time since the operation that something has gone wrong to know how difficult it is for my body to try to fight it.
“Now, thanks to Covid, I’m just a target.”
MARTIN DE RUYTER / THINGS
Tony Stout’s scars from an operation in which his spleen had to be removed after it was accidentally cut during surgery.
A spokeswoman for the Health Ministry said that people who had their spleens removed were at increased risk of bacterial infections, including complications from Covid-19 such as pneumonia.
Splenectomy has been added to the list of immunodeficiency categories that require special care.
Stout has lived in his trailer at the Waimea Club in Richmond for the past 13 years. It’s a home that you love, but you share toilets and showers with other residents, making it difficult for you to isolate yourself if Covid-19 reappears in the community.
His request to ACC to install a chemical toilet and shower at his site was rejected and Stout was told in an email that ACC did not cover Covid-19 related illnesses.
”I acknowledge that you have raised concerns regarding your immune system and spleen with the current Covid-19 situation. However, ACC does not cover Covid-19 related illnesses, unfortunately this is out of our control and is potentially something you should discuss with WINZ, ”the email read.
MARTIN DE RUYTER / THINGS
Tony Stout standing outside his trailer, where he has asked to have a chemical toilet and shower installed so he can insulate himself if he needs to.
The ACC acknowledged that Stout needed multiple vaccinations due to the splenectomy, however, it said “there was no medical evidence that there was any disability due to covered injuries.”
In response to further questions from Stuff, an ACC spokesperson said it was considering a number of factors, “including the increased risk of Covid-19” and was working with Stout to find “a viable solution.”
Stout said it was not a question of whether Covid-19 would reappear in Nelson, but rather when and felt ACC needed to take a different approach to its situation in light of the virus.
While he’s been told that Covid is “under control”, Stout wants to be able to isolate himself to stay safe.
“This is having a huge effect on my mental health and my other health problems.
“I’m not looking for the world, I don’t like them by the millions and I didn’t even do this, it’s not even my fault.”
