I thought I should tell you the events that happened with Susan , my wife. In Oct 2012 she noticed that her abdominal girth was increasing and when examined I found that there was a large mass inside the abdomen. USG and MRI revealed it to be a large growth (approx 15 cms) arising from the fundus of the uterus. It was well encapsulated and there was no sign of extension. I took her to the nearby Gynaec hospital doing infertility business. They asked me whether I have completed the family as they suggested myomectomy followed by assisted reproduction. After hearing this I also got interested as I always longed to have a second child. During surgery the tumor ruptured and the ‘senior medical college returned professor’ could remove it only piecemeal. Post surgery the professor wanted another senior pathology professor who is now working with a chain laboratory and who claims to be the stalwart of Pathology in Kerala, to opine on biopsy. This lady gave a diagnosis of “Epitheloid Leiomyoma”. I could not understand such a terminology and when I asked her about it she gave me an opinion that it is a benign tumor which required follow up only. She also suggested that she requires second opinion from another lady senior pathologist in RCC Trivandrum and called her on the phone( in fact biased her). The second pathologist kept the specimen for three weeks and confirmed the diagnosis. I specifically enquired whether there is anything to worry , she said no, but follow up. So no hysterectomy was done. Subsequently the monthly follow up was done for next five months. Every cycle my wife received clomefene + hcg+ progesterone. Every visit she underwent ultrasound done by the gynecologist who reassured that everything is fine. Last visit was done in April 2013 and finally opined for IVF. Susan was little reluctant for IVF. In the first week of Oct 2013 Susan felt minimal lower abdominal pain and decided to go to a Radiologist for USG instead of the Gyne. The radiologist immediately suggested MRI which showed large masses within the uterus, pelvis and bulky Para aortic lymph nodes which were encircling the aorta (Inoperable). Obviously my wife had an advanced cancer which was later diagnosed as Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma. We sought opinions of pathologists from Major institutions of Kerala and Tata Memorial Hospital , Mumbai. They all said that no sensible pathologists should have made such a diagnosis even as the initial slides were also showing the same cancer. It was also unfortunate that Susan was pumped with so much of hormones which accelerated the Tumor growth like adding fertilizer. What happened here was that the ‘Pathology Stalwart’ being a senior lady , was reluctant to say that “I don’t know”. The Pathologist at RCC ( I really don’t know whether she even looked at those slides) did not think that the life of my wife was in her hands, instead praised the old pathologist who was her teacher and confirmed the same diagnosis. I doubt the Gynecologists who followed up my wife by serial ultrasound examinations, really saw something as they thought it was rather a ritual in the infertility business! When somebody is mad at money they don’t feel the pains of the families whom they crush under their feet and walked away in search of money. Being a doctor who is practicing for two decades I felt myself ashamed of few of my own community of medical practitioners till I saw those working committed at Tata Memorial . I wish any more persons not to have such a fate out of callous attitude of my own professional brothers. Don’t we need a compulsory retirement age for Doctors just like airline pilots? If there was a retirement age ,people like the elderly lady pathologists would not have come to the scenario. Everybody knows that even doctors when they reach fifties will have cognition impairments and tend to commit mistakes. Is it safe to entrust the patients’ lives with these persons? Don’t we need a regulation so to prevent the unqualified people doing procedure, like gynecologists doing ultrasound? Our government has no regulation on people doing unethical practices like those ‘ Cardiologists’ who have no degree other than MBBS but an ornamental degree awarded by the private hospital for serving them for a nominal salary ! IMA also is silent on these kind of malpractices . None of the NGOs are coming forward to end these kind of practices. Finally I have no hatred towards the people who are responsible for my wife’s present condition. I am not going to take them to the court as well. Can anyone turn the clock back and give my wife a new life? We pray everyday to God to give wisdom to those people involved, especially for the elderly doctors to take a decision to retire and not for anyone to have our experience. Why you should be bothered about my wife’s story is that it could be you next time. Think what you would have done if you were in my place. Pardon me if my words hurt any ethical practitioners . I also dont have words who gave us all kinds of support even without asking. We owe you everything in our lifetime. Pray for us . Let God give wisdom to all. Dr,Varghese Zachariah Pulmonologist , Thiruvalla.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 18:46:10 +0000
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