DAMMAM, 8 June — The Health Affairs Department in the Eastern Province is investigating a case filed by a Saudi woman against a private hospital in Dammam for conducting a mastectomy as a result of an irresponsible diagnosis by an expatriate physician. The Medical Director of the hospital told Arab News that the patient complained of a tumor which was not removed in its preliminary stages, therefore causing her to lose her breast when the tumor eventually spread.
He said that the woman was asked to make follow-up visits as detailed on her schedule, but failed to do so until the tumor became malignant six months after her first visit. Moreover, the patient rejected a recommendation by the hospital to continue treatment; instead, she requested transfer to another hospital.
The patient, 34 years old and married, said that first she visited the hospital after she noticed a coin-size tumor. The doctor indicated that there was nothing to worry about and all she needed was the tumor monitoring. The patient said that the doctor did not mention a follow up schedule nor did he conduct an X-ray. She believed his diagnosis and recommendation and thus never attempted to seek further medical advice. Over time, the tumor enlarged and she become anxious. Eventually, she went to Dammam General Hospital and the consultants there diagnosed the tumor as malignant. The woman checked with ARAMCO Hospital in Dhahran for a second opinion. There physicians’ diagnosis confirmed the diagnosis of Dammam General Hospital.
As a result of the mastectomy, the woman is now in a traumatic condition for which she is receiving chemical therapy at the ARAMCO hospital.
