Grave robber, surgeon, polyp thief
John Hunter was England's most famous surgeon in the late 18th century. He was also a grave robber, and sought out human parts for his medical experiments in unconventional ways. In 1791, for example, he attempted to steal the nasal polyps of composer Joseph Haydn. Haydn wrote at the time that Hunter called him for a visit, where he was seized by "some robust fellows" as Hunter stood nearby with his surgical tools. Haydn managed to break free, but a later subject, a 7 '8" giant named Charles O'Brien, could not prevent what was done with his remains after his death. When O'Brien fell ill, Hunter said he would like to put his bones in a museum, but O'Brien refused. He made elaborate plans to be buried at sea in a lead coffin, but Hunter had detectives follow up until his death and ultimately got his prize. O'Brien's bones still hang in the Hunterian Museum, part of London's Royal College of Surgeons.

Second opinion
The good news was that Darrie Eason did not have breast cancer. The bad news was that she had a double mastectomy for no reason. When Darrie Eason was told in 2006 that she had breast cancer and would need a double mastectomy, she sought a second opinion. Using the same medical records, the second doctor told her the same thing.

A technician admitted to being less than thorough when labeling tissue samples. Though neither the technician nor the doctor still work for their former company, when the New York State Department of Health investigated the lab, it found no systemic problems, and Eason was not able to sue.

Whatever you do, don't fall asleep.
Last but not least, a tale of a doctor who took negligence to another level. Michael Hix went in for a standard hour and a half liposuction in 2010 to get a few pounds taken off. The procedure instead lasted six hours because his doctor fell asleep on the job. He was fired, and Hix has a lawsuit in the works.

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