90 breast cancer patients may have got 'unnecessary treatment' at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital due to wrong test results

[The_King]

SINGAPORE - A test for breast cancer patients that guides their treatment options has produced inaccurate positive results at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), which may have resulted in about 90 patients receiving unnecessary treatment since 2012.

Side effects from the treatment the affected patients may experience include heart problems, diarrhoea, chills and fever.

KTPH said on Friday (Dec 11) it estimates that 180 patients may have got the wrong test results. Preliminary investigations suggest an incorrect staining process for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) test was the cause.

The HER2 test is used to determine how aggressive the breast cancer is likely to be so that medical practitioners can prescribe the right treatment for patients.

In the test, the tissue sample from the patient is "stained" with antibodies that have a coloured dye, which attaches itself to HER2 proteins.

Since the issue with the test was discovered, the hospital said it has identified all affected patients and their samples dating back to 2012 have been sent to external laboratories to expedite retesting.

 

 

As some of the retest results return, the hospital has begun contacting the patients and their treating oncologists to offer support. This process of contacting patients is still ongoing.

To ensure patient safety, the hospital has stopped in-house HER2 testing in its laboratory.

KTPH said it reported the incident to National Healthcare Group (NHG) on Nov 22 and to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Nov 24.

NHG has convened an independent review committee, which includes external experts, to do a thorough review of how the incident occurred to improve the process and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Said Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, chief executive of KTPH: "I would like to convey my deepest apologies to all the affected patients, their families and their treating oncologists. I am very sorry that they have to go through this. We will provide all the necessary support and assistance, and will do our best to take care of them."

In a separate statement on Friday, MOH said it took a serious view of the incident and has requested the hospital to review other laboratory protocols beyond those for HER2 tests as a safety precaution.

It added that KTPH is subject to regulations for private hospitals and medical clinics which ensure that its facilities and processes to resolve laboratory issues are in place.

"Appropriate enforcement action will be taken if a breach of protocol is found," said the ministry.

 

 

 

 

[The_King]

Never talk about compensation. WOT but not a single compensation word in to

[Coffee_O]

On 12/11/2020 at 8:41 PM, The_King said:

Never talk about compensation. WOT but not a single compensation word in to

SGH incident already no blame culture pls liao. this one nobody dies. u think they care?

ask someone who are not even a doctor to be health minister, what do you expect? 

[The_King]

That why my country embarrass me

[unclefcuker]

This hospital cmi one. Heard quite a few stories of incorrect diagnosis and thus delay of proper treatment until patient seeks 2nd opinion from other hospital.

[The_King]

4 hours ago, unclefcuker said:

This hospital cmi one. Heard quite a few stories of incorrect diagnosis and thus delay of proper treatment until patient seeks 2nd opinion from other hospital.

Cgh also the same.