Honk News (Eugene, OR) – The family of an Oregon man, John Michael Murdoch, is suing Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) for $900,000 after his face caught fire during a surgical procedure in December 2022.
Murdoch, 52, was undergoing a tracheostomy as part of his treatment for squamous cell carcinoma, a type of tongue cancer. During preparation for the procedure, his face was swabbed with isopropyl alcohol for sterilization. However, the alcohol was not allowed to dry completely, leading to a fire when it came into contact with a surgical tool that emitted a spark.
According to the lawsuit filed in December 2024, Murdoch was “awake and conscious” during the fire, which caused severe burns, disfiguring scars, and traumatic wounds to his face. While the fire-related injuries were not listed as his cause of death, Murdoch lived with significant pain until his passing from cancer in June 2023.
Murdoch’s widow, Toni Murdoch, has retained attorney Ron Cheng to represent the family. Cheng noted that despite being unable to speak, Murdoch could communicate the immense discomfort he endured following the incident.
The lawsuit names Dr. Adam Howard, the physician involved in the surgery, whose Oregon medical license lapsed in January 2024. Howard currently practices in West Virginia, where his license remains active. OHSU and 10 unnamed surgical staff members are also listed as defendants.
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The legal filing cites unsafe operating room conditions that created a “fire triangle” — the combination of oxygen, an ignition source, and a fuel source — as identified in an October 2023 alert by the Joint Commission, a healthcare safety organization. The surgical tool allegedly responsible for the fire reportedly had a known history of emitting sparks.
The family’s lawsuit highlights the physical and emotional toll Murdoch suffered during his final months, as well as the preventable nature of the incident. OHSU has not publicly commented on the case.