A doctor who misdiagnosed a patient has been censured and fined $10,000 by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). He had failed to tell a patient that his cancer markers were ‘abnormal’ – the patient was later diagnosed with colorectal cancer by another doctor, and had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy.
Dr Fernandes Mark Lee – who has a decades’ worth of experience under his belt – pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to exercise due care in managing a patient, as he had inaccurately communicated test results of the patient’s health screening.
Dr Fernandes was working as a gastroenterologist at Asia HealthPartners in Lucky Plaza, where the patient did a health screening on Feb 9, 2012. The patient was later informed over the phone that his results were good and he did not need a review with a doctor. The report, which he received in the mail, was prepared and signed off by Dr Fernandes – it stated that his cancer markers were ‘normal’; but in reality, they were considered high.
“As a result of Dr Fernandes’ oversight and the lack of a detailed, in-person review of the results with the patient, the patient lost the opportunity to take earlier appropriate follow-up action,” said the SMC. “In fact, the patient saw a specialist only about 20 months later.”
The patient lodged a complaint against Dr Fernandes to the SMC in June, 2014.
Dr Fernandes admitted that he had overlooked the test results, but due to his plea of guilt, his good record and upstanding character references, the disciplinary tribunal decided not to suspend him.
