Consumers' Club takes serious note
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 05 2019: Condemning a case of potential neglect and error on part of a private clinic which published a wrong result diagnosing a patient with cancer, Consumers' Club Manipur has warned that it will investigate the matter and take up necessary legal against the erring party at the earliest.

A press release issued by the president of the association today narrated that on April 1 last year, one N Ngoubram (35) of Thongju began treatment under a doctor of JNIMS after complaining of throat pain.

Initially, the doctor diagnosed his ailment as nothing more than an infection of the tonsils and prescribed the medicines for treatment.

However, as his condition did not improve, the doctor called for an operation and on October 8 his tonsil was removed.

The doctor recommended samples of his tonsil to be sent for further testing and as such, it was sent to a well known laboratory in Imphal.

The test result was received on October 16 and it mentioned that the patient had cancer.

Based on the report, the doctor recommended the patient to go to RIMS but after the patient's family pleaded with the doctor, he recommended the patient to go to TATA Memorial Hospital, Mumbai for treatment.

It continued that Ngoubram left for hospital on October 22 and there he underwent many tests and his tonsil samples from the laboratory were also tested as well.

However, in a shocking turn of events, the doctors at TATA Memorial Hospital told the patient that he did not have any form of cancer and his initial test result was wrong.

They further instructed him to continue his initial treatment course for his tonsil and as such he was discharged from the hospital on November 11, it added.

Pointing out the apparent confusion as well as turmoil the whole ordeal has caused to the patient, the organisation warned that in the interest of the patient, it will look into the matter and take up necessary legal actions against the erring party if the need arises.

It further mentioned that the incident also needs the attention of the Health Directorate and added that it also raises questions regarding the public's trust in the said body as in the past there was a case of inconsistencies in the laboratory results of one laboratory and another laboratory on August 10 last year which, even when it reached the Health Director's level, has failed to reach a conclusion even to this day.

Further urging the Chief Minister to properly look into the working and efficiency of the Health Directorate as well, the organisation appealed to the CM and the authority concerned to ensure proper guidelines and ethical practices at all Government and private hospitals, clinics, laboratories etc.

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