Huddersfield dentist John Townend died after mistake during operation

May 28 2010 by Nick Lavigueur, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DENTIST’S wife begged him not to have an operation that ultimately killed him.

Eminent dentist John Townend died after part of his bowel was torn during keyhole surgery to remove his gall bladder.

At an inquest into his death yesterday, Assistant Deputy Coroner Tim Ratcliffe described the procedure that led to the tragic death as “routine”.

The court also heard there had been confusion over whether Mr Townend, 85, should have had keyhole or open surgery.

And Mr Townend’s wife Stephanie, who had just celebrated her 11th wedding anniversary with her husband, said she didn’t think he needed the operation at all.

She said her husband, who launched the Trinity Street-based Park View Dental Practice in 1950, was “extremely active” for a man of his age.

The Halifax inquest heard that Mr Townend, of Marsh Lane, Shepley, began to feel unwell and suffer stomach pains in May, 2009.

After being diagnosed with gall stones he was told by doctors he needed to have his gall bladder removed.

Consultant surgeon Mr P K Gupta told the court Mr Townend had been very keen to have keyhole surgery so he could recover quicker and said it was the “defacto” method of operation.

Mr Gupta and his team performed the operation at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax on October 12, 2009.

Mrs Townend said after the procedure her husband could barely eat and at one point he couldn’t even drink a cup of tea.

She said for that reason she was not suspicious that his colostomy bag was empty.