A woman with pain near left breast was referred to pathology lab and imaging centre where fine needle aspiration and excisional biopsy diagnosis of infiltrative ductal carcinoma breast was made and patient was referred to higher cancer treatment hospital. Based on previous reports left breast was removed and tissue sent for Histopathology report which showed no evidence of tumour in tissue and axillary lymph nodes. A patient was asked to bring initial tissue taken for marker study which pointed out the wrong diagnosis.
The patient filed a complaint for compensation of negligence and undergoing painful treatment and mental trauma.Pathology Lab was fined Rs 10 lacs with interest as compensation to the patient. This is one of the rare cases of negligence in the medical profession. Though, in court pathology lab held guilty but for discussion sake what is the role of the cancer treatment…
