Loss of Sample from Biopsy

[absolutkaz]

Hello...I have never been involved in a situation like this, but my wife was told by a doctor to have a biopsy on a small growth above her groin. (She has a family history of malignant melanoma).

She went in for the biopsy, and they removed the 3" inch growth. This was on Friday.

On Monday, nurses started calling asking to set up appointments for another surgery, and saying the hospital would cover all the costs...

My wife demanded to know what was going on, and asked for the doctor.

A few hours later, the doctor who performed the surgery called, and said that once he had removed the biopsy, he turned it over to a nurse who was to place it into a specimen container. Apparently, he said, the nurse dropped the biopsy, and never realized it. She then handed it to the second nurse who was supposed to check the biopsy, then seal the container and label it. Apparently, she never looked down, and sealed an empty container and labeled it.

So now, there is no way to check for the cancer unless my wife goes in for a more intense surgery, which will be removing more extensive areas for additional testing.

Considering the position of where this surgery is, she is having second thoughts of even having another procedure due to all of these events.

Her health and well being is my main concern, but I am very upset at this hospital and the staff for "losing" something this important, and causing her additional surgeries, which would have been unneeded if they had performed their jobs properly.

Is there any action I can take against this hospital?

Thank you in advance for your help.

[lealea1005]

A three inch growth would not be considered a "small growth". The surgeon will go back and take samples from the margin of what was already excised. It will be no more intensive than the first biopsy. If you are truthful when you tell us your wife's health is most important, then you should encourage her to get the second biopsy done ASAP.

No doubt, the Nurse will be disciplined, if she hasn't already. Your wife will have to prove that her diagnosis was delayed, or she was harmed because of this mistake. Since the Surgeon contacted her immediately after discovering the error, the only delay or harm would come from your wife putting off the second biopsy.

Best of luck to her. Hope this info helps. Perhaps others will have something more to add.

[absolutkaz]

Thank you for the response.

We spoke with another doctor, and they said they would not be able to take another sample from that area, that they would only be able to test now by removing a lymph node from the groin to test for the malignant melanoma.

I really don't care about "going after" anyone...if you think it is possible for them to take another sample from that area, wouldn't the doctor have mentioned that to us?

[lealea1005]

Thank you for the response.

We spoke with another doctor, and they said they would not be able to take another sample from that area, that they would only be able to test now by removing a lymph node from the groin to test for the malignant melanoma.

I really don't care about "going after" anyone...if you think it is possible for them to take another sample from that area, wouldn't the doctor have mentioned that to us?

Obviously, the treating Physician is the one actually looking at your wife. I am merely specualting on the information you gave us. If they feel they must biopsy the lymph node, then they must be confident that all margins were removed with the first biopsy. Again, you wife should not delay in getting the biopsy.