Medical Laboratory Sciences Cases >> Case 1 / Case 2 / Case 3 / Case 4

Case 2

Mrs Amy Tong, who was 38 years old, underwent a pap (cervical) smear and was examined at Hong Kong Laboratory Corporation (LabCorp) in 2003. The reported test results stated: "Atypical cells present, but no malignant cells seen." Mrs Tong contacted her doctor for the results, 12 weeks after the test, and was told that there were no malignant cells present. The following year, Mrs Tong underwent a further pap smear, at ABC Laboratories, and was informed that cancerous cells were present in her pap smear specimen. Mrs Tong's cancer had been undetected and untreated for a year.

The physician in charge of her case initially suggested surgery and radical radiotherapy to control her cancer but, on further examination, this policy had to be changed as the cancer had spread too far. Consequently, Mrs Tong underwent a course of palliative radiation therapy. Mrs Tong's condition did not improve and she finally died in late 2006. In that same year, Mrs Tong's doctor requested and received the 2003 pap smear. The smear was re-examined and this determined that cancerous cells were present. Mr Tong now wants to seek legal advice for negligence in the management of his wife's case.