A Melbourne woman has been left permanently disfigured after doctors at Sunshine Hospital performed the wrong surgery due to an alleged patient identification mix-up.

She had been admitted for the removal of a small cancerous skin lesion but instead underwent a different procedure intended for another patient with a similar first name.

The woman says she questioned staff about her identity before the operation but was assured she was the correct patient.

Western Health says patient safety remains its highest priority and that it follows Victoria’s Statutory Duty of Candour, including apologising, investigating serious incidents and sharing findings to prevent future mistakes.

The hospital has not commented on the individual case because of patient privacy obligations.

The incident has sparked renewed concerns over patient identification and informed consent procedures in Victoria’s public hospitals.