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

A man in his 60s learned he had liver cancer just seven months after having a test because his doctor forgot to send him the results after his private practice suddenly closed.

Luc Audet is not angry with Dr^s Adam Hoffman, whom he met at the Preventia clinic in Saint-Jerome.

“I was lucky it didn't escalate. I could have died during those seven months,” exclaimed the man who agreed to tell his story as part of the show. I Which will be broadcast this evening at eight o'clock in the evening on TVA.

He is one of many patients who found themselves without follow-up after the closure of the Preventia clinic, but also of the Gomed clinics, all of which are linked to Dr.^s Hoffman, MD, specializes in internal medicine (see other text).

The clinic is closed

In May 2021, Dr^s Hoffman had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan after identifying a nodule on his liver.

In the following weeks, Dr^s But Hoffman closed his clinic without informing his patient. But the examination showed liver cancer.

Luc Odette tried to find out his results by going to the address of the clinic, but a new team was formed.

“The secretary said to me: ‘We will call you back.’ “I never received a reply,” says the Saint-Calixte resident in Lanaudière.

A series of errors

• May 17, 2021: Dr^s Hoffman orders a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Early June 2021: The doctor closes the door to the Preventia clinic
• June 28, 2021: An MRI reveals cancer
• December 2021: Luc Audet's family doctor reveals the results of his June exam to him
• March 28, 2023: Dr^s Hoffman sends a letter of apology
• March 30, 2023: The College of Physicians concludes that there was a violation by the doctor

Only in December 2021, his sister-in-law explained to him that his forehead was yellow. Since he was not feeling well, he consulted his family doctor. The latter revealed the results of the examination to him and requested urgent treatment.

The news of cancer hit him like a brick.

“I walked out of there and was in tears. I cursed myself because I had not been notified,” he said, explaining that it was Dr.^s Hoffman to follow.

The building that houses the Preventia and Algomed clinics on St. Faustin Street in St. Jerome is for sale for $1.2 million.

QMI Photography Agency, Martin Allary

He was quickly sent to the University Hospital of Montreal Centre.

“I thought I was dead. I said, 'That's it, that's it.' I made my will during my appointments at CHUM.

practical

Two years later, he is still undergoing treatment and the tumor has progressed to the point of requiring surgery in early January. The sixty-year-old man believes that he has lost seven months of his battle against the disease.

The month after his diagnosis, he filed a complaint with the College of Physicians. The call was not made until the college investigator, Dr., contacted him^s Hoffman received the test results.

During his interrogation, Dr^s Hoffman explained that the departure of several employees and the COVID-19 context could explain his omission.

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

QMI Photography Agency, Denis Theriault

The investigation concluded that there was an irregularity in the doctor’s conduct.

“Unfortunately, the clinic is completely out of order at this time due to staff shortages, which is why you did not have an appointment,” he wrote in an apology letter to his patient.

Dr^s Hoffmann fled with a letter in his file, much to the dismay of his patient who also denounced the slowness of the operation.

Dr^s Hoffman and the College of Physicians declined to comment on the matter.