An Italian doctor is being called a hero after he refused to abandon brain surgery on a patient despite suffering from a heart attack during the operation.
Dr. Claudio Vitale of Naples insisted on finishing the surgery to remove a brain tumor even though he began to feel chest pains part way through the procedure, Ansa news agency reported.
At the urging of his medical team, the 59-year-old neurosurgeon underwent a blood test once the pains worsened. The test confirmed a heart problem, but Vitale said he “couldn’t leave the patient at such a delicate moment.”
A half hour after finishing the surgery, Vitale underwent an angioplasty operation to treat the angina attack. Both doctor and patient are recovering.
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