Punjab: Tuberculosis Diagnosed As Cancer, Lab Fined

CHANDIGARH, 20 NOV 2019:

Wrongly diagnosing a bank manager with lung cancer instead of tuberculosis (TB) is going to cost a private laboratory Rs 2.15 lakh.

The district consumer disputes redressal forum has directed a Spiral CT & MRI Centre in Sector 44 to pay Rs 2 lakh as compensation and 15,000 as litigation cost to Vijay Ramola, a resident of Sector 22, for the blunder.

Ramola, in his complaint, said he had a persistent cough for more than 15 days in 2014. He visited Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. Doctors suggested a CT scan of his chest. The reports pointed out abnormal growth, lymph nodes, in the lung region. He was advised to get a bronchoscopy test. On receipt of a report of the lab of GMCH on December 18, 2014, it was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma lung, that is cancer of the lung, and he was referred to oncology department.

Spiral CT & MRI Centre conduced a PET scan test. The report stated cancer had spread due to which bones were likely to become weak. The report diagnosed it to be a case of cancer stage IV. Ramola underwent three chemotherapies on January 2, 2015, January 31, 2015, and February 23, 2015. However, no improvement was noticed. He then shifted to Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Doctors there said a minor test of bronchoscopy and PET-CT scan had revealed that stage IV lung cancer could not have been diagnosed. A biopsy test revealed it to be a case of tuberculosis. Ramola said he took treatment from a doctor in Dehradun and became healthy after consuming medicines for nine months.

Following the alleged harassment, pain, suffering and mental stress he underwent on being diagnosed with cancer stage IV, he filed the complaint. The laboratory claimed it had nowhere opined cancer had spread from lungs into the bones. ET Healthword