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 Health Department authorities have launched a probe into the incident in which a 38-year-old woman had to undergo chemotherapy at Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, after being wrongly diagnosed with breast cancer. The incident came to light when the victim, Rajani, lost all her hair in a single chemotherapy session, following which the doctors found out that she doesn’t have cancer.
HIGHLIGHTS
- A 38-year-old woman was given chemotherapy after medical reports said she had cancer
- However, other reports said the Kerala woman did not have cancer
- She has lost all her hair and has been unable to work for months
Rajani, 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.
The second session of chemotherapy was cancelled but by then Rajani had already lost all her hair. Chemotherapy takes a huge toll on the body and she became weak.
She has been unable to go to work since then. According to the reports, Rajani is the sole breadwinner of her family and she has an eight-year-old daughter and her ageing parents live with her.
Following this Rajani 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.
Senior consultant oncologist Suresh Kumar K., who had treated the woman, said that after the tru-cut biopsy tested positive for malignancy, it was decided to subject her to chemotherapy at the earliest considering the possibility of it spreading to more areas.
He said, “However, the review result and the additional results, which came out later showed that there was no malignancy. It was then decided to hold the therapy and she was asked to examine the lump once again.”
Rajani 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.
Dr. Jayakumar TK, Superintendent, Kottayam Medical College hospital said, “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.”
He further added, “All tests can’t be repeated at the hospital. A biopsy is not conducted again at the hospital if the sample examination is already done.”
Dr. Jose Joseph declined to comment saying it would be inappropriate to do so before the probe begins. Minister for Health K.K. Shylaja has asked the Principal of the Government Medical College, Kottayam, to investigate and submit a report on the incident. Kerala Health Minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident and asked for a report.
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