GP kept abnormal blood test results from woman for over a year

A GP did not tell a woman her blood test results were abnormal. Photo/Getty

A general practitioner at a natural health clinic failed for more than a year to tell a patient she might have diabetes.

A 37-year-old woman went to a GP at a natural health clinic for help managing her hypothyroidism although she was still registered with another GP for other health needs.

The GP at the clinic ordered four sets of blood tests over a 14-month period, each of which showed abnormal results for the recommended screening test for diabetes, but the woman was not told of the results.

The GP advised the woman to make some lifestyle changes after the first test but did nothing after the next two.

The last result, which saw a significant change, was not communicated to the woman in a timely manner because the GP did not review it for two days and then went overseas for three days.

The day before the GP returned, the woman mentioned she was feeling generally ill, and complained of a number of symptoms, including increased "cloudiness", perpetual thirst, and unexpected weight loss.

The next day she spoke to the GP and mentioned that she had been passing excessive urine and had painful flanks.

The GP then told the woman of the blood test results and advised her to consult with her enrolled GP within the week.

The following day the woman was admitted to hospital where she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

The Health and Disability Commissioner has found that the GP breached the woman's rights by failing to inform her about the series of abnormal results - and their significance - and by failing to communicate with the woman's enrolled GP.

It was held that the natural health clinic breached the code by not implementing any measures to handle its increased workload, failing to arrange for another health professional to process test results over the period its GP was overseas, and by not having a system in place to ensure that patients' GPs were advised of test results and the treatments provided.

The commissioner recommended the GP arrange for a peer to audit all blood test results received within the last month, with focus on appropriate follow-up of abnormal results and communication with principal health providers; undertake further training on the diagnosis and management of diabetes; and apologise in writing to the woman.

It was also recommended that the Medical Council of New Zealand consider whether a review of the GP's competence was warranted and that the natural health clinic develop a written policy for the management of test results.