As reported by The Sunday Telegraph from Australia, a 59 year-old man was told he had to go through chemotherapy and then submit to a surgery that would leave him with only 20 percent of his stomach, in an effort to battle an aggressive form of stomach cancer - that later proved to be a complete misdiagnosis.
G.L., of Gosford, went through a total of seven chemotherapy sessions, followed by surgery, dropping approximately 44 pounds, and now has to stand to eat, and suffers with anxiety and depression.
Allegedly to blame is Gosford's Hospital's pathology laboratory. Named in his lawsuit is the Central Coast Local Health District.
G.L. to reporters, "They told me I had cancer. I went through chemotherapy and they cut out my stomach."
Six weeks following his stomach surgery doctors at Royal North Shore revealed the truth: the initial diagnosis was an error.
The claims reads, "After independent pathological review the biopsies taken during the gastroscopy, the biopsy findings were wrong in that there was never any evidence of malignancy."
The pathologist allegedly responsible for examining the tissue sample apologized to G.L. - after an investigation by Central Coast Local Health District revealed his mistake.
G.L. further stated, "To find out I didn't have cancer. It was just devastating. I was numb. I just couldn't believe it. I thought he was going to tell me they found more cancer and then he told me the other way."
G.L., after suffering with reflux in July of 2009, met with a physician in Gosford. A gastric biopsy was performed and Palm Pathology - in Gosford Hospital - examined the tissue for disease.
After receiving the results of his biopsy, G.L. said, "I was told one of the areas biopsied has an aggressive cancer. My wife just fell apart, she didn't stop crying for three days, and it was very distressing."
G.L. began the chemotherapy treatment, which made him "very ill", before submitting to the gastrectomy procedure at Royal North Shore Hospital on January 29 and having a large section of his stomach irrevocably removed.
Of the shocking news he received six weeks later, G.L. commented, "I was told that the tissue taken from me during that gastrectomy was examined through the pathology department at Royal North Shore and the lymph nodes that were taken out showed no evidence of cancer. The tissue samples were sent to Royal Prince Alfred for study and again that came back with no evidence of malignancy. I am still very angry. Psychologically I am not over what has happened I don't know if I ever will. I still have the dreams about it and wake up in a sweat about it."
G.L., through his lawyers, has filed a claim for injury, loss and damage.
Although the laws governing medical errors may differ from country to country, if you have been harmed by a mistake made by your physician, in this country, you have grounds for a lawsuit. Contact a medical malpractice attorney today to discuss your own case and seek monetary compensation for any pain and suffering you have endured.