MEDICAL WARNING! ACLASTA of NOVARTIS caused NEAR FATAL INCIDENT in Singapore Gleneagles Medical Centre
I, Wong Chen Li Chu (Singapore citizen, female, 61 years old) had an injection of Novartis ACLASTA on 7th Oct 2008 at the Singapore’s renowned Gleneagles Medical Centre. The injection was given by Dr. Chan Heng Thye, President of the College of Surgeons, and a well known experienced orthopaedic specialist. Dr Chan did not conduct any blood test before injecting ACLASTA on me, and the only medication prescribed after the injection, was a box of ‘Panadol’. Three days later I was hospitalized for hypocalcemia and critical kidney condition. The clinical diagnosis is ACUTE KIDNEY FAILURE. Doctors suggest that I be prepared for kidney replacement or permanent dialysis. Novartis ACLASTA is a new medication for treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and men at increased risk of fracture, a condition that occurs predominantly among elderly people. I believe there will be more elderly people to whom ACLASTA will be recommended. My encounter with the administration of Novartis ACLASTA in the renowned Singapore Gleneagles Medical Centre, by an experienced doctor and resulted in a near fatal physical suffering, should be a lesson to be remembered at all times! The Singapore Health Science Authority has clearly specified the following information on the official site regarding Novartis ACLASTA: "ACLASTA (Zoledronic Acid) has been associated with renal dysfunction, and in rare cases, acute renal failure." ( Section 4.8: Undesirable Effects ) "ACLASTA is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 40ml/min) due to limited clinical experience in this population. Patients should have their serum creatinine level measured before receiving ACLASTA" (Section 4.4: Special Warning and Precautions)
For an official ‘Drug Information and Instruction of ACLASTA, please click to read: MIMS Singapore
http://patientsville.com/medication/aclasta_side_effects.htm
Please think carefully and take all precautions before receiving ACLASTA!
Dr Chan Heng Thye did not conduct any blood test to measure the level of creatinine in my body, or consider the well being of my kidneys before administrating ACLASTA on me. Dr Chan treated me not as a patient, but as an experimental subject for the new drug. He carelessly ignored the precautions listed in ACLASTA’s instruction and did not bother to read the precautions, or inform me of the potential side effects, which he was supposed to. After the injection, his assistant, Margaret prescribed me with a box of Panadol. I was instructed to take 2 tablets every 8 hours. The next morning, I experienced sharp pain throughout my limbs, chest, heart and waist. My face became swollen. Rashes also appeared throughout my body and I felt extremely itchy. I called up the hospital to ask for doctor’s advice but was told by Margaret that the doctor had gone overseas. Despite the urgency of my call, Margaret did not direct me to any other medical personnel who could explain the symptoms and offer me any medical care. She merely instructed me to take ‘Panadol” to ease the pain. Two days later, my conditions worsened, I was admitted to the A & E Department of Mount Elizabeth Hospital, and was subsequently hospitalized in Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Raffles Hospital and the Singapore General Hospital for critical kidney condition. Dr Chan’s reckless and irresponsible behavior has caused me much harm. In view of my medical condition, on 28th August 2009, the doctors at the Singapore General Hospital decided that I have to start a 10-hour long session of Peritoneal Dialysis every day. I am now disabled, and unable to live my life as I used to, and in constant worry of my mortality. It has been nearly a year since the incident and I have not heard a single word of consolation or concern from either Dr Chan or the Novartis pharmaceutical company. Until now, they have yet to give any response to an issue that concerns the life and death of their patient. My incident has raised attention in Singapore, and has become the headline news in a local newspaper. Please click to read:
Sequence of Events and Clinical Development after injection of ACLASTA
Under my family’s current financial conditions, I am unable to meet the financial requirements needed to confront Dr. Chan, President of the College of Surgeons, and a well known and experienced orthopaedic surgeon, in the court system. However, as a victim seeking justice and dignity, I believe I deserve the concern of our society, and a response from the medical establishment, of whom Dr Chan is a part. Dr Chan Heng Thye was a member of Singapore Medical Council for over twelve years. Dr Chan had chaired many Complaints Committee and Disciplinary Committee. For detail, please click to read SMC President's Foreward: SMC Annual Report 2002 I have taken the matter to the Singapore Medical Council, hoping that the Council will uphold justice for me and settle the issue in a fair and appropriate manner.
Please click to
read:
On 12th June 2009, I received an official reply from the ‘Complaints Committee’ of Singapore Medical Council that was to set up to investigate the case. The following sentences in the letter astounded me: (The Complaints Committee) “noted that you were asked to undergo certain blood tests before the surgery, and again before the administration of Aclasta but you had refused on both occasions.”
First,
this is a complete fabrication. In reality, on the day before I received my wrist surgery, Dr Chan did ask if I had
high blood pressure or diabetes to which I replied no. At that point of time, it was totally under Dr Chan’s
decision whether to do a blood test on me before the operation. On what basis am I to refuse a blood test before a
surgery? Before the injection, Dr
Chan completely did not mention to me anything about taking blood tests. He did not even bother to
tell me the name of the drug. Neither did he explain any of its side effects. After the Aclasta injection, the only
thing his assistant, Margaret, told me was to take 2 Panadol tablets every 8 hours. Panadol was the only medication
I was given after the injection of Aclasta. This obviously states that since the beginning, Dr Chan has
underestimated or had been completely ignorant on the procedure of administrating Aclasta and its potential side
effects. How can he say that I refused to take the blood test? Where is the basis for this
allegation? Osteoporosis is a long-term illness. why did Dr Chan present Aclasta as the only viable option for me, rather than suggest alternative treatments? Why did Dr Chan go against his better knowledge that the medication could threaten my safety? Why did he not prioritize my well being? It does not seem to be a coincidence that the drug cost S$1,500 (US$1,100), and Dr Chan was eager to make this transaction before he left for overseas the next day. I had agreed to take the medication completely out of trust and reliability for his medical expertise and a presumption that patient-doctor care ethics existed.
"ACLASTA (Zoledronic Acid) has been associated with renal dysfunction, and in rare cases, acute renal failure." ( Section 4.8: Undesirable Effects )
"ACLASTA is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 40ml/min) due to limited clinical experience in this population. Patients should have their serum creatinine level measured before receiving ACLASTA" (Section 4.4: Special Warning and Precautions) (see: MIMS Aclasta )
Osteoporosis is a long-term illness. Dr Chan injected Aclasta on me in the absence of a blood test or kidney assessment, What are we to make of a doctor who offers potentially high risk and expensive treatments to his patient? Is a doctor providing such treatment having the patient’s interest at heart?
"Doctor must realize
that they hold a privileged position: patients look to doctors expecting that they know more about medical science,
and rely on their advice to make treatment choices. Doctors must uphold this trust by acting ethically at all times
"
Dr Chan
is a renowned doctor. I am a patient in my 60s, a non–English speaker, without any special knowledge of Western
medicine. Based on a friend’s recommendation, I specially went to Gleneagles Medical Centre to seek his expertise,
trusting his judgment and medical ethics. I wanted to prevent myself from illness in my old age. In what position
am I to challenge a professional doctor’s judgment? On what basis am I to reject a doctor’s professional advice to
take a blood test? Yet, the ‘Complaints Committee’ seems to ignore such a simple and basic relationship between a
patient and a renowned doctor. In light of the evidence presented and based on such a basic rationale of reasoning,
the Complaints Committee closed the case with a simple 'letter of warning' to Dr Chan. I am utterly disappointed with the reply I received from the Complaints Committee. In my response to them, I have protested against their verdict to the case and appealed for a reinvestigation.
For details of the above, please click to read: Declaration of Complaint / Verdict / Protest
My incident has shown that behind the noble image of the medical world, hides a dark side of how
things work. I wonder how many innocent victims cry for help and justice in the face of such a helpless
situation. The
Gleneagles Medical Centre is a symbol of Singapore's medical excellence. It is a place where many foreign patients
come for medical treatment. As such, this is a place where human lives are concerned and there should be no room
for tolerating negligence and carelessness. Since the
founding of Singapore, the pioneers of this country have built this island from scratch to its present glory. The
history of Singapore is not one that has progressed by tolerating the practice of carelessness and
negligence. In
today’s money-orientated society, the medical world has been polluted and tainted by commercialism. Immoral and
unethical doctors see the world through monetary values, and treat their patients as money making machines. It
won’t be long before the hospitals become commercial agencies, doctors become businessmen and medical
treatments become commercial products. In a society where medical ethics and morals are lacking, every one of us,
including our future generations are bound to suffer! As a victim of medical
malpractice and negligence, I believe that many people have similar experiences like me; helpless and frustrated. I
strongly believe that my case will evoke society’s concern and
attention. Dr Lee
Wei-Ling, Director of the Singapore National Neuroscience Institute, personally called my husband three days after
my husband wrote to her about my incident. Dr Lee asked my husband to keep her informed of the development.
My family is very grateful to Dr Lee for her concern. The
medical industry should be constantly improving and refining. We, as citizens, should take up the social
responsibility of upholding justice whenever we see injustice. To safe-guard the sacred tradition and morality of the medical establishment and profession,
please do your part and voice your concern. I sincerely hope that by publicizing my experience, other citizens will
not have to undergo the same kind of pain and suffering. We trust our doctors. We deserve responsible
treatment; compassion and care.
Please click to comment on my BLOG, I need your assistance and
advice! (October 20, 2009 Singapore)
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