A female patient came to see me with some difficulty swallowing, a very routine issue for a gastroenterologist. I performed an scope examination of her esophagus and confronted a huge cancer occupying the lower portion of her esophagus. Life changes in an instant. I expected a benign explanation for her swallowing issue. She was relatively young and not particularly ill. She had seen my partner years in the past for a similar complaint, which he effectively treated by stretching her esophagus. I expected that I my procedure would be a re-run. I was wrong. Prior to the procedure, we chatted and I learned that she had recently undergone a CAT scan of the chest ordered in response to some respiratory symptoms, which were not severe. After I had completed my scope examination of her, I was amazed that no mention of this tumor was related to the patient, who had told me that only a hiatal hernia was seen. I requested a fax of the report which confirmed that the r
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.