The Medical Board of California accused gastroenterologist Parminder Singh Dhaliwal, MD, of alleged gross negligence, OC Weekly reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Dr. Dhaliwal is a gastroenterologist at Newport Beach, Calif.-based Hoag Hospital. The board alleged Dr. Dhaliwal repeatedly performed negligent acts, failed to maintain accurate records and violated the medical practice act when treating a 73-year-old, now deceased, man.
2. Dr. Dhaliwal first saw the patient in April 2011. The man was taking three separate drugs to treat diabetes and coronary artery disease. Dr. Dhaliwal had the man undergo laboratory studies, an upper endoscopy, a colonoscopy and an abdomen scan.
3. A lesion was apparent in the upper part of the man's liver. Additional testing was recommended. The lesion wasn't found in a follow-up ultrasound, so an MRI was recommended to get a closer look. Dr. Dhaliwal allegedly did not order any additional imaging, nor did he follow up on the lesion or any abnormal liver radiographic findings.
5. Dr. Dhaliwal did conduct an upper endoscopy a few days later, but allegedly misidentified the patient as a 73-year-old female in his notes.
6. A pathology report noted the patient had either an infection or stomach ulcers. The pathology report asked Dr. Dhaliwal to advise the patient to schedule a follow-up. Allegedly, Dr. Dhaliwal did not schedule a follow-up, nor did he adjust any of the man's medications, despite a risk of peptic ulcer disease-related bleeding or other complications.
6. The man was admitted to the hospital by another physician in October 2011. The lesion on his liver was allegedly "significantly larger." The new physician scheduled imaging treatment, unaware that imaging had recently been done.
7. The patient returned to Dr. Dhaliwal in late October 2011. Dr. Dhaliwal allegedly noted the liver lesion, but neither evaluated it nor attempted to treat it. Between October 2011 and August 2012, Dr. Dhaliwal allegedly made no mention of the liver lesion in any of his notes.
8. The patient was hospitalized due to liver pain in August 2012. Dr. Dhaliwal consulted on the case. He attributed the pain to bloating, while noting an imaging scan found a mass on the patient's liver. Allegedly, his physician's note ended with, "Overall the patient has a poor prognosis."
9. The patient died October 2012 of liver cancer. Physicians said the mass was too large to properly remove.
10. The board submitted the allegations and is considering future disciplinary action against Dr. Dhaliwal, including revoking his medical license.