Fighting Serb surgeons leave patient in the lurch

BELGRADE, Feb 21 (Reuters) A routine appendix operation in Belgrade went badly wrong when two surgeons started fighting and stormed from the operating theatre to settle their dispute outside, the daily Politika reported today.

Surgeon Spasoje Radulovic was operating when his colleague Dragan Vukanic entered and made a remark that started a quarrel, said the anaesthesiologist on duty.

''At one moment Vukanic pulled the ear of the operating doctor, slapped him in the face and walked out,'' she said.

Radulovic followed and an all-out fight ensued, resulting in bruises, a split lip, loose teeth and a fractured finger.

The operation was completed successfully by the attending assitant doctor.

REUTERS PDM KP1747