A doctor who missed red flags in diagnosing her patient’s oesophegeal cancer has been fined more than $20,000. The Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found “Dr H” had failed to refer her patient to a specialist or for an endoscopy on four separate occasions despite him presenting cancer symptoms. The tribunal said this amounted professional misconduct and censured the doctor, a female general practitioner who has permanent name suppression, ordering her to pay 30 per cent of the tribunal costs amounting to $21,636. Dr H has appealed the tribunal’s decision to the High Court.
