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Prior to the airing of the on a chemo under-dosing scandal at St Vincent's ºÚÁϳԹÏȺÍø, Sydney, Professor John Grygiel had received assurances from ºÚÁϳԹÏȺÍø administration that he had their full support. He was told that "...the segment would not name me or anyone else personally, and that it was not a finger-pointing exercise. I was informed that the ºÚÁϳԹÏȺÍø completely supported me and my clinical decisions, and that they would not ‘hang me out to dry’."
The report revealed that seventy cancer patients at Sydney's St Vincent's ºÚÁϳԹÏȺÍø have been givenÌýincorrectÌýdoses of a chemotherapy drug, carboplatin, for up to three years.ÌýDr Grygiel had with head and neck cancer without adjusting their individual test results and characteristics, aired on Thursday night.
Dr Grygiel was advised by the ºÚÁϳԹÏȺÍø to decline commenting on the story and he subsequently released a published by the ABC on the 7:30 Report website. In his statement, Dr Grygiel refutes some of the assertions of the report.
Dr Grygiel contends, "Contrary to Dr Gallagher’s statements on the 730 program , I had not been ‘disciplined’ in relation to this allegation; nor had I been placed under any supervision in my treatment of patients. Prior to the airing of the 730 Report, Dr Gallagher has never expressed to me, verbally or in writing, any dissatisfaction with my treatment. Dr Gallagher, together with the more senior hospital staff, confirmed that my treatment was appropriate. Dr Gallagher did not speak to me about this allegation since about December 2015 when again he didn’t express any dissatisfaction," he says.
reports that when St Vincent's became aware of the dosage issue they launched anÌýinternal investigation andÌýindependent review - conducted by a leading medical oncologist from interstate. Both the investigation and the review found that the dosageÌýdiscrepanciesÌýhad no adverseÌýimpactÌýon the outcomes of the patientsÌýinvolved.
Regardless of the outcome, with Dr Grygiel's reputation now flapping in the wind, it might be helpful to reflect on the implications for medical staff who catch the attention of the media when there isÌýa breakdown in corporate governance.
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References:
- 70 cancer patients prescribed wrong chemotherapy dose for three years at St Vincent's ºÚÁϳԹÏȺÍø, Sydney. Feb 18. - Inquiry launched into St Vincent's ºÚÁϳԹÏȺÍø chemotherapy dosage scandal. Feb 23.
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