NSW: Six die after bungled pathology tests, govt says

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2006
NSW: Six die after bungled pathology tests, govt says

The NSW government says up to six people may have died .. because a pathologist in
northern NSW misdiagnosed their tests.

Health Minister JOHN HATZISTERGOS and chief executive of Hunter New England Health
TERRY CLOUT have announced the results of a review of over seven thousand anatomical pathology
tests .. taken by Dr FARID ZAER.

The review was conducted in March this year .. following concerns that Dr ZAER .. who
worked at Tamworth Hospital from 1999 to 2001 .. may have failed to correctly analyse
tests for diseases .. including cancer.

Mr CLOUT says 38 of the cases have significant variations .. which would have a serious
impact on patient care.

Of these .. he says five or six people have since died.

AAP RTV tr/was/wf/bart

KEYWORD: ZAER (SYDNEY)

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