Swiss hospital admits failures after botched MRI and 8,000-franc bill
A 79-year-old man with post-polio syndrome faced repeated delays and errors during an MRI procedure at University Hospital Basel. The hospital later admitted that several administrative processes had failed in handling his case. The patient was referred for an MRI under anaesthesia in February. The scan was initially booked for a Wednesday, with the procedure expected on Thursday or Friday. However, no anaesthesiologist visited him that day, and staff could not provide a reason for the postponement.
The MRI eventually took place—but it was of the cervical spine instead of the head, making the results unusable. As a consequence, the man remained in hospital for six days before the scan was rescheduled for the following Monday. His neurologist later arranged another MRI for May.
The patient received a bill of nearly 8,000 Swiss francs for the incorrect procedure and hospital stay. After his insurer disputed the charges, the hospital issued a corrected invoice, reducing the amount by over 5,000 francs. University Hospital Basel acknowledged that multiple administrative failures occurred during the patient’s treatment. The revised bill was issued after the insurer’s intervention, and a new MRI was planned for May.
