“I could have died”: His doctor forgot to tell him he had cancer

A man in his 60s learned he had liver cancer seven months after being tested because his doctor forgot to send the results after his private clinic suddenly closed.

Luke does not rage against Audrey D^R Adam Hoffman met at the Preventia Clinic in Saint-Jerome.

“I was lucky it didn't escalate. I could have died in those seven months,” said one who agreed to tell her story as part of the program. I am Airs tonight at 8pm on TVA.

She was one of many patients who found themselves without follow-up after the Preventia clinic closed, but all Algomet clinics had T.^R Hoffman, a physician specializing in internal medicine (see other text).

The clinic is closed

In May 2021, D^R Hoffman underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan after discovering a nodule in his liver.

Dr. Adam Hoffman is a specialist in internal medicine at Saint-Jerome. In 2021 and 2023 he was the principal manager of the suddenly closed Preventia and Algomet clinics.

Photo courtesy of adamhofmann.com

In the following weeks, T^R However, Hoffman closed his clinic without informing his patient. But tests revealed liver cancer.

Luc Audet went to the clinic address and tried to find out his results, but there is a new team.

“The secretary told me: “We'll call you back.” I never heard back,” says the resident of Saint-Calixte in Lanadier.

A series of errors

• May 17, 2021: d^R Hoffman requests magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Early June 2021: Doctor Preventia closes the clinic's doors
• June 28, 2021: MRI reveals cancer
• December 2021: Luc Audet's family doctor reveals to him the results of the June test
• March 28, 2023: d^R Hoffman sends a letter of apology
• March 30, 2023: The College of Physicians ruled that the doctor was in violation

It was only in December 2021 that his sister-in-law pointed out that he had a yellow forehead. As he was not feeling well, he consulted the family doctor. The latter revealed the test results to him and demanded urgent treatment.

The news of the cancer hit him like a brick.

“I came out of there and I was in tears. I was cursed for not being notified,” she said, noting that it was Dee's responsibility.^R Hoffman to follow.

The building that housed the Preventia and Algomed clinics on rue St-Faustin in St-Jérôme is for sale for $1.2 million.

Photo Agent QMI, Martin Alary

He was soon transferred to the University Hospital Center of Montreal.

“I thought I was dead. I said: That's it, it's over. I made my wish during my appointments at CHUM,” he says.

operation

Two years later, he's still in treatment, and the tumor has progressed enough to require surgery in early January. The sixty-year-old believes he has lost his seven-month battle against the disease.

A month after the diagnosis, he reported to the College of Physicians. Only after being contacted by the college inspector^R Hoffman received the exam results.

In his investigation T^R Hoffman explained that the departure of many employees and the context of Covid-19 may explain his omission.

Luc Audet shows documents sent by the College of Physicians following the investigation into Dr. Adam Hoffman.

Photo Agency QMI, Denis Theriault

The investigation revealed irregularities in the doctor's conduct.

“Unfortunately, the hospital is completely out of business at this time due to insufficient staffing, which is why you did not get an appointment,” he wrote in an apology letter to his patient.

D^R Hoffman escaped with a letter in his file, much to his patient's dismay, in which he also condemned the delay in the procedure.

D^R Hoffman and the College of Physicians declined to comment on the matter.