Abdulaziz Bin Hamda Zakrawi, 82 years old, lives in Sidi Sa’eed village in Siliana State (170 km northwestern of Tunis). He had never been to a physician or taken medication until he turned 60. His entire life changed when he went to hospital to have a lithotripsy, a routine medical procedure performed to destroy kidney stoens, for example. Instead, they extracted his whole kidney without his knowledge. When he accidently discovered it, he complained to the court in vain.

Could you tell us about yourself and what happened to you?

Abdulaziz Bin Hamda Zakrawi, 82 years old, lives in Sidi Sa’eed village in Siliana State (170 km northwestern of Tunis). He had never been to a physician or taken medication until he turned 60. His entire life changed when he went to hospital to have a lithotripsy, a routine medical procedure performed to destroy kidney stoens, for example. Instead, they extracted his whole kidney without his knowledge. When he accidently discovered it, he complained to the court in vain.

Could you tell us about yourself and what happened to you?

I am a Tunisian citizen who loves this country, cries if anything hurts it and rejoices for its progress. I had 12 children, three of them died. My sick wife and I are currently living with my son and his family. I was a vigorous and an energetic peasant and I toiled a lot and served the land. I had never visited any physician or had any illness until one day I started feeling dizziness and sickness overwhelm me, weakening my movement and tiring me. After numerous visits to a physician and having tests and x-rays, I learned there was a calculus (stone) in my urinary tract.

How did you deal with your sickness considering you have never taken any medication?

I had great confidence in science and medicine, so I never felt fear or anxiety; besides, the attending physician at the Regional Hospital in Siliana State at first reassured me, saying it was no big deal, and they sent me to the University Hospital in Tunis for treatment by medication. After examination, the medication did not succeed in shattering the calculus because it was 2.5 mm thick. Then, the doctors proposed using laser lithotripsy and I gave my consent.

At the same time, I was seeing a private physician for more reassurance and he assured me that the operation was simple, both kidneys were in good condition and the stone was far from them.

Did you have any suspicions regarding the operation? Or did you suspect the physicians’ honesty or intentions?

As I said, I had confidence in them and if they had asked me anything I would have agreed. On the operation day, I was ready but I did not have it due to the numerous operations at the hospital that day. Therefore, they postponed mine to the next day, which was June 3, 2005.

I entered the operation room; they anesthetized me partially, suspended my feet upward, and started the operation. I heard strange sounds, which were similar to knocking on a door. Maybe the physician was testing the safety of the kidney before extracting it out of my body.

Did you feel it?

Never! I did not doubt for a moment that it was not a laser lithotripsy. I spent four to five days at the hospital. Then, the physician allowed me to leave and suggested that I frequent a dispensary near my son’s house at Sidi Hussain area in Tunis to get follow-up treatment for the wound.

Did you know then?

No! I kept visiting the dispensary until the wound healed. However, I had an appointment at the hospital. Fortunately, the physician who carried out the operation was not there on that day, so another one examined me. When he finished he said, “The operation was successful, but do you know why you had the operation?” I replied with confidence, “Yes, I had a laser lithotripsy.” But he answered: “Do you know what they did? They took your kidney.” It was a shock to me.

Was the shock the reason for your rush and decision to file a lawsuit?

The shock was so severe that I did not believe it until we were called for by the investigators of 9 April area, who sent me to the coroner at Charles Nichole Hospital, and then I knew for sure that my kidney had been extracted. I heard the physician who carried out the operation rebuking the physician who informed me of what happened. He said to him: “Why did you tell him? Are you happy now?”

Had he told me from the beginning that my kidney was sick and should be extracted, I would have agreed undoubtedly, but he cheated me because even the private physician whom I used to see assured me that my kidney was healthy and he handed me a medical statement for that, which I added to the case file later.

What happened next?

After listening to my statement, they sent me to the Prosecutor of Siliana State because I am originally from there, to complete the investigation, but the case was closed. The physician has kept on practicing his profession, and I did not get my rights upheld. They did an injustice to me.

How did this incident affect you?

I am old now and no longer able to defend my rights and re-open the case. I also provide for my sick wife. I am tired of the severe crises that hit due to the other kidney, which is no longer working properly.

Is there anything you want to say today, which you could not previously, and to whom?

I just wish to say that my confidence in physicians has not been shaken because not all of them are corrupt. But I hoped the judiciary to be just and give me back at least part of my rights. After all, I lost an organ of my body, and I suffer from that daily.

Sickness and poverty are mostly what I suffer today. Therefore, I only hope to be treated free of charge, and the court re-open my case and give everyone his due process.