A tragic incident at Oregon Health & Science University hospital has led to a lawsuit after a man’s face caught fire during surgery. Back in December 2022, 52-year-old John Michael Murdoch was undergoing a procedure for his cancer treatment when something went terribly wrong.
John was being treated for squamous cell carcinoma, a type of tongue cancer. He had checked into the hospital in Portland, Oregon, for a tracheostomy—a procedure to insert a breathing tube into his throat. As part of the surgical prep, medical staff swabbed his face with isopropyl alcohol to sterilize the area. However, when the alcohol didn’t dry completely, a surgical tool created a spark, igniting the alcohol and setting his face on fire.
The ordeal left John with severe burns and disfiguring scars that caused immense pain and discomfort. Although he survived the fire, he passed away in June 2023 due to cancer. The burns weren’t listed as his cause of death, but a lawsuit filed by his family in December 2024 claims the trauma from the incident greatly affected his final months.
John’s widow, Toni Murdoch, has taken legal action, hiring attorney Ron Cheng. The lawsuit, filed against Oregon Health & Science University and 10 unnamed surgical staff, also names Dr. Adam Howard, who was involved in the procedure. Dr. Howard’s medical license expired in Oregon in January 2024, and he has since moved to West Virginia, where his license remains active.
The lawsuit paints a grim picture of what happened in the operating room that day. It describes the room as a fire hazard, with oxygen, flammable materials, and tools capable of sparking—conditions that experts call the “fire triangle.” The lawsuit also points out that the tool responsible for the spark had a history of similar incidents.
John’s attorney, Ron Cheng, referred to the fire as a “never event”—something that should simply never happen in a medical setting. Reports indicate that John was awake during the fire and able to feel the pain, even though he couldn’t speak due to his medical condition.
While the hospital declined to comment, citing patient privacy, the case raises serious questions about safety protocols in operating rooms. The Murdoch family hopes the lawsuit will bring attention to these issues and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
