A woman who complained of symptoms of weight loss and fatigue was not examined by two doctors and died of cancer within a few weeks. (Stock image) Photo: 123RF
A woman who visited a medical clinic in 2020 with symptoms of weight loss and fatigue was not examined by one of her doctors and died of cancer within a few weeks.
The Aged Care Commissioner ruled that the doctor was in breach over the delayed diagnosis of the woman's metastatic oesophageal cancer.
The woman in her 60s had visited two different doctors at the same clinic, having lost 7kg over two months and had other symptoms including fatigue, loss of appetite and feeling cold.
The first doctor, who worked part time, requested blood tests and referred her to a public hospital for an ultrasound scan of her liver.
A letter was posted by the hospital's radiology department to another practice the doctor worked at, and then later posted to the correct medical centre. But the doctor said they did not remember seeing this letter.
When the woman revisited the clinic with deteriorating symptoms, a second doctor saw her but did not physically examine her and gave her medicine for thyroid hormone deficiency and indigestion issues.
The second doctor told the Health and Disability Commissioner that he had advised the woman to be admitted to hospital that day, but the woman's husband who attended the appointments does not recall this advice.
Five days later, the woman presented to the emergency department and was diagnosed with metastatic oesophageal cancer.
She died a few weeks later.
The Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper found that the second doctor's decision to not examine the woman and his management decisions fell below standards and breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights.
The doctor was advised to apologise to the family for his failings.
The commissioner also recommended the owner of the medical centre consider new processes for management of part-time doctors and the filing of documents to ensure the continuity of care.
She also noted that the first doctor's notes were incomplete and that the medical centre lacked policies on managing outstanding results and tasks assigned to short-term locum doctors.
