A Seattle man undergoing emergency heart surgery went up in flames on the operating table after alcohol that was poured on his skin was ignited by surgical instruments. The patient later died due to heart failure and not of injuries relating to the fire, said Dr. Robert Caplan, medical quality director of Virginia Mason. Although it happened in October 2003, it has only now been revealed after an anonymous letter was sent to the media. The letter mentioned the incident as evidence of unsafe health care at the hospital, and said the patient burned to death.