In an appalling case of medical negligence, a woman from Alappuzha who doesn’t have cancer was given chemotherapy on the basis of a false lab report. The incident came to light when the victim, Rejani, lost all her hair in a single chemotherapy session, following which the doctors found out that she doesn’t have cancer. The state government has ordered a probe into the matter on Sunday (June 2).
Rejani, who is in her late 30s, is a native of Kudassanad in Alappuzha district, and sought treatment for a tumour. A biopsy was conducted and the examination was done in a private lab, which claimed she had cancer. A chemotherapy session was conducted at the Medical College Kottayam on the basis of this report.
But the doctors soon recognised the mistake when she completely lost her hair after a single session of chemotherapy.
Following this, they sent her biopsy sample for examination to the pathology lab of the Medical College hospital, and also to the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram – the highest institute for cancer care in the state. And the result was negative in both tests.
Following this Rejani filed a complaint with the Health Minister on which the government ordered a probe. Health minister KK Shylaja has directed the principal of the Medical College, Kottayam, Dr Jose Joseph, to urgently probe into the matter and to submit a report. The minister told media persons that a protocol will soon come to effect for cancer treatment in the state.
Rejani was unavailable for comment. In an interview to Malayalam website she has alleged that the private lab tried to cover up the issue after it became a controversy.
"The woman had given a complaint earlier at the medical college and we had conducted an inquiry with a medical team. It was not possible to take action against the doctors as they started treatment based on the lab report," Dr Jayakumar TK, Superintendent, Kottayam Medical College hospital told TNM.
"All tests can't be repeated at the hospital. Biopsy is not conducted again at the hospital if the sample examination is already done," he added.
Dr Jose Joseph declined to comment saying it would be inappropriate to do so before the probe begins.