Hospital loses breast tumour
2010-09-08 23:03
Pretoria - The anguish of a woman from Polokwane to find out whether she has breast cancer or not took a turn for the worse when the hospital lost the tumour they had removed from her breast.
The tumour should have been analysed to determine whether it is malignant, after initial tests showed signs of abnormalities.
A family member of Tharina Fick said the staff at 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane, where the operation was performed, has left the woman in an "impossible situation".
The doctor who removed the tumour told the woman that theatre personnel had even rummaged in the hospital's rubbish bins in search of the missing tumour.
A few weeks ago, Fick felt a lump in her breast. Tests were done in Polokwane and the results indicated that the lump might be malignant.
She had to return to the hospital for more intensive tests, where a biopsy would have been performed and the sample analysed.
The surgeon apparently told her he would rather remove the entire lump, and the operation was performed last week.
Bad news
"The next morning there was a large group of student doctors in her room along with the surgeon. One of the students asked whether it would be better to do biopsies in the theatre for faster results.
"By that time she knew something was wrong. But they sent her home and said she would have the results in two weeks' time," said the family member.
"The surgeon phoned her this week and said he had very bad news for her. She expected the worst, but then he said they lost the tumour...
"The worst part was that he told her to handle the situation as if she does have cancer, and that she should come and see an oncologist to decide whether she needs chemotherapy.
"Apparently the problem is the fact that they cut out the whole lump and there's nothing left to analyse."
The doctor also wanted her to drive to Pretoria from Polokwane again where he would have all the necessary personnel gathered to explain to her what had happened.
"She just wants clarity about her health: Does she have cancer and what is going to happen to her now?
"If the lump is gone, it's gone, but how on earth does something like this, which impacts one’s whole life, happen?" a family member wanted to know.
"Why did they wait a week before they told her about the mess?"
A spokesperson for the SA Military Health Services said on Wednesday he's aware of the incident.
The hospital's management has appointed a board of inquiry, and therefore cannot comment any further.