Reader flags impossible case report in Annals of Medicine and Surgery – A reader contacted the journal after finding a case report riddled with contradictions, medically impossible claims, invented terminology, and ethical breaches, prompting scrutiny [1].
Report describes 38‑year‑old woman dying from aortic rupture after C‑section – The case details a 38‑year‑old woman with a clot‑risk disorder who became acutely ill three days post‑cesarean, suffered a ruptured abdominal aorta, cardiac arrest, and died after 1 hour 45 minutes of resuscitation [1].
Article claims patient gave written consent, which is impossible – The authors assert the deceased provided written consent for publication, yet the patient was unconscious and later declared dead, making such consent unattainable, as noted by the reader [1].
Text contains contradictory physiological data about PEA and pulse – The report states “PEA with a heart rate of 120 bpm and blood pressure 90/60 mmHg,” a logical inconsistency because pulseless electrical activity implies no palpable pulse, highlighting a medical error [1].
Corresponding author, linked to an Iranian university, has extensive misconduct record – Retraction Watch reports the author has over 160 PubPeer flags and 34 retractions, and did not respond to inquiries about the case report [2].
Publisher issued erratum correcting consent and minor errors; journal not approved in Norway – Wolters Kluwer published a correction stating consent was obtained from the patient’s legal representative and fixed textual errors, yet it omitted the PEA contradiction; the journal was rejected by Norway’s publishing committee in 2020 for lacking an academic editorial board [1][2].