Review of Pathologists Work Raises Concern over Diagnoses Given to Patients
A number of inquests have been delayed after the Senior Coroner for the Manchester North Jurisdiction, Joanne Kearsley, arranged for a review of the reports of Pathologist Dr Khalid Ahmed following post-mortem examinations.
Concerns were raised about the accuracy of Dr Ahmed’s reports leading to a review by independent expert Professor Simon Suvarna. The Professor’s review identified multiple and significant deficiencies with Dr Ahmed’s reports at many levels. It concluded that in a number of the cases reviewed the final cause of death was, in Professor Suvarna’s opinion, incorrect.
The investigation into the quality of Dr Ahmed’s post-mortem reports raises a wider concern about whether, and if so to what extent, incorrect diagnoses have been reached as a consequence of Dr Ahmed’s reporting of pathology following patient biopsies. As well as performing post-mortem examinations for the North Manchester jurisdiction (covering areas of Oldham, Bury and Rochdale) and Manchester West jurisdiction (covering Bolton, Salford, Wigan and Leigh), Dr Ahmed was employed as a Senior Consultant Histopathologist for the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust until the beginning of 2018.
Our expert Clinical Negligence Team recently investigated a claim involving the Pathology Team at Pennine Acute Trust and the death of a young man from cancer of the appendix. The incorrect reporting of the pathology, in this case, led to a delay in diagnosis of cancer, and a reduction in the young man’s life expectancy. Jacqueline White, Clinical Negligence Solicitor, comments:
“In light of the number of failings in post-mortem reporting highlighted by Professor Suvarna’s report, there will be inevitable concerns that significant errors have been made by the Pathology Team reporting on in life pathology for patients at Pennine Acute Trust”
If you have concerns about pathology reporting at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust contact our expert clinical negligence team on 0161 785 3500.
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