Hospital to pay Dh50,000 to patient after wrong TB diagnosis in UAE

Abu Dhabi - Documents at the appellate court stated that the man visited the hospital's emergency section complaining of severe abdominal pain, fever and cough.

An Abu Dhabi hospital, which wrongly diagnosed a patient with tuberculosis (TB) that led to a 16-day isolation, has been ordered to pay him Dh50,000 as compensation for moral and material damages.
Documents at the appellate court stated that the man visited the hospital's emergency section complaining of severe abdominal pain, fever and cough. After examining him, the medical staff concluded he had infectious pulmonary TB. The man was placed in quarantine to prevent a spread of the infectious disease. The medics immediately reported the results from the initial diagnosis to the health authorities in the emirate.
During isolation, the hospital took more blood samples from the patient and sent them abroad for further tests. All the test results, however, confirmed that the man didn't suffer from TB or any other infectious illness. He actually suffered from pneumonia. The hospital discharged the patient after six days without informing the health authorities about the new test results.
Three days later, the patient received a call from the health authorities, informing him that they had been notified he suffered from TB. He was told to visit a certain hospital to undergo more tests to confirm that he really suffered from the chronic disease.
When he arrived at the hospital, he was admitted and isolated in a closed room for 10 days as authorities waited for TB test results. The hospital then let the man to go home, but he was subjected to a treatment programme under direct observation for a period of six to eight months.
He then filed a lawsuit against the first hospital, demanding compensation.
A medical report submitted by the Supreme Committee for Medical Responsibility indicated that there was a medical error on part of the first hospital.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com 

• Abu Dhabi