Cancer patient claims doctor delayed diagnosis
CBC News
Posted: Jan 5, 2013 1:14 PM MT
Last Updated: Jan 5, 2013 3:25 PM MT
Emmanuel Alonce says his doctor knew he had cancer, but didn’t tell him until three months later.
(CBC)
A Calgary man says his doctor knew he had cancer, but didn’t tell him until three months later.
In 2010, Emmanuel Alonce thought he was getting treated for a simple sinus infection.
But when the anti-biotics didn't work, he knew there was a bigger problem.
"I missed something. I said what did you miss? He could not answer me,” Alonce said. “He just watched me go, he said we're going to call you back."
Alonce had cancer, and says he says his doctor knew for three months.
Last summer Alonce filed an official complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
In a report, the College's findings back up Alonce's allegations saying in this case, the doctor was not in compliance with the College's standard of practice.
And in the report, the doctor did respond writing :”I am very sorry that all systems failed Mr. Alonce. I wish him the very best, and I sincerely hope he remains cancer-free.”
The College of Physicians and Surgeons isn't commenting on this case, saying the college can only comment on complaints that go to a disciplinary hearing, which a spokesperson says are less than three per cent of the total complaints received.
For his part, in the report the doctor says he's made three key changes to the way his office operates as a result of this case.
He says all incoming lab and pathology results are now stamped on the day they're received.
He says if significant pathology is received, the patient is immediately informed.
He also says he's improved correspondence in his office through a voice recognition system and that he and his assistant both review all letters dictated into his electronic medical record, which are then passed on to receiving physicians in a timely fashion.
But despite these changes, Emmanuel Alonce says it doesn't change the fact he feels all of this could have been avoided.
"I consider negligence — criminal because it can kill my life,” Alonce said. “Even today I'm talking to you, I don't have no life — I don't have no future."
Alonce has been cancer-free for a year, but just today he saw a physician because of an aching knee.
Now, he's worried the cancer may be back and will know more following a blood test on Thursday.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Teen's death sparks call for social services information
- The Alberta government wants to see changes on how provinces share information about children under the protection of social services. more »
- Southern Alberta braces for heavy rainfall, snow
- With Calgary and many parts of southern Alberta expecting a lot of rain over the next few days, officials are telling people to take some precautions. more »
- Calgary school board staff's $15K New Zealand trip questioned
- Calgary's public school board says a $15,000 trip to attend a conference on thinking in New Zealand for its chief superintendant Naomi Johnson and two staff members was worth it. more »
- Alberta's pest list includes 60 critters
- Many Calgarians are finding that squirrels, birds and other critters are starting to find homes in their backyards as summer approaches, but some may be surprised what animals Albertans can get rid of legally. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Greg Weston: Senate scandal may be Harper's worst hour
- The widening Senate scandal that the prime minister flippantly tried to dismiss as a 'distraction' just days ago has instead become arguably Stephen Harper's worst hour. more »
- 3 injured in Washington state bridge collapse
- A Washington state bridge over a river collapsed Thursday evening, dumping two vehicles into the water and sparking a rescue effort by boats and divers who searched the chilly waterway north of Seattle. more »
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
- The Federal Court says it won't throw six MPs out of their seats over allegations of widespread vote suppression through automated robocalls in the 2011 federal election. But Judge Richard Mosley did find that fraud occurred in the election. more »
- 3D printers give rise to 'desktop manufacturing'
- Customizable objects from plastic dollhouse furniture to medical prosthetics can now be designed and printed out by almost anyone at the press of a button, and is going to lead to an 'explosion of new stuff,' predicts author Chris Anderson. more »
- Southern Alberta braces for heavy rainfall, snow
- Alberta's Wildrose Party fined $90K for robocalls
- S.E. Calgary man missing since February
- Calgary school board staff's $15K New Zealand trip questioned
- Teen's death sparks call for social services information
- Alberta's pest list includes 60 critters
- Calgary teen found dead had been in provincial care
- Rain, snow in K-Country prompts rescue of school campers
- Calgary man charged with murder in 2012 killing

