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Mixed Up Test Samples Causes' Hale and Hearty Woman to Undergo Jaw Surgery

by Savitha C Muppala on Jun 12 2012 4:03 AM

 Mixed Up Test Samples Causes
Misdiagnosis caused a woman to undergo surgery, where part of her jaw was cut away after a mix-up occurred at the laboratory where she gave the samples for testing.
The University of Otago Dental Hospital has offered an apology to the lady for the misdiagnosis.

Dr Iain Wilson had taken an oral biopsy sample of his 63-year-old patient after she suffered from facial swelling and sinus infections following a tooth implant in the previous year. The sample was sent to Medlab Dental to test for cancer.

When the results turned positive, the woman underwent a hemimaxillectomy to remove the right side of her upper jaw.

After undergoing the ordeal of the surgery, the woman was informed that the tissue taken during the surgery did not show any sign of cancer and that her initial specimens had got mixed up with that of another patient. This had occurred after the pathologist had dropped her test pot accidentally.

The Health and Disability Commission have taken up the case.

Source-Medindia


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