2023-08-16 19:30:00
A radiologist has admitted not having diagnosed a cervical fracture to a patient who suffered a serious car accident in the Outaouais and who became quadriplegic before dying two weeks later, in 2020.
The Dr Bardia Moosavi, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of offenses before the Disciplinary Council of the College of Physicians of Quebec (CMQ), this morning.
“I feel devastated, testified the Dr Moosavi. The fact that he suffered […] and that he did not receive the necessary care immediately, I am very sorry for that.
The 75-year-old patient, whose identity is protected, had been transported to Shawville hospital following a serious car accident on the morning of March 6, 2020. Upon arrival, the medical evaluation mentioned a “decrease in sensitivity of the lower limbs,” said the assistant syndic of the College of Physicians of Quebec, Dre Anne-Marie Houle.
No anomalies and leave
However, the radiologist Dr Moosavi, who had been in practice for less than a year, found no abnormalities in the exams.
“It is on this basis that the emergency doctor tells the patient that they will relieve his pain and that he can be discharged”, underlines the assistant syndic, who investigated following being alerted by the coroner .
His cervical collar had been removed and caregivers even asked the patient to attempt to move his limbs, coroner Francine Danais wrote in her report.
“We didn’t believe the doctors, he mightn’t sit up!, according to the patient’s widow, joined by The newspaper. It’s like he doesn’t matter, nobody cares regarding him.”
In the followingnoon, the patient in pain had finally been hospitalized.
“Given discomfort, an additional pillow was even added. Could this have caused his condition to worsen?” asks the coroner.
During the night, his condition deteriorated and the man had even become quadriplegic. Contacted urgently, the neurosurgeon at Hull hospital suspected a fracture of the cervical spine and demanded a transfer of the patient on March 7.
Palliative care and death
Operated on the same day, the 75-year-old man had postoperative complications, the coroner’s report said. Faced with this grim picture, he received palliative care and died two weeks later.
During his testimony, Dr.r Moosavi admitted to having re-evaluated the X-ray images of this patient, and that there was indeed a fracture. Today, he says he is more conscientious in his work.
“It’s a lesson for me. It will help me to be a better radiologist,” said the man who now works at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.
He had no prior disciplinary record and received refresher training on cervical spine injuries.
Both parties proposed a 75-day debarment. The Disciplinary Council must render its decision within three months.
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