A man in his 60s learned he had liver cancer just seven months after having a test because his doctor forgot to send him the results after his private clinic abruptly closed.
Luc Audet does not get angry against the Dr Adam Hofmann whom he met at the Preventia clinic in Saint-Jérôme.
“I was lucky it didn’t escalate. I could have died during those seven months,” thunders the man who agreed to tell his story as part of the show. I which will be broadcast this evening at 8 p.m. on TVA.
He is one of the many patients who found themselves without follow-up after the closure of the Preventia clinic, but also of the Algomed clinics, all linked to the Dr Hofmann, a doctor specializing in internal medicine (see other text).
Clinic closed
In May 2021, the Dr Hoffman performed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan after identifying a nodule on his liver.
Dr. Adam Hofmann is a specialist in internal medicine in Saint-Jérôme. He is the main manager of the Preventia and Algomed clinics which closed abruptly in 2021 and 2023.
Photo taken from the site adamhofmann.com
In the following weeks, the Dr Hofmann, however, closed his clinic without his patient being informed. However, the examination revealed the presence of hepatic carcinoma.
Luc Audet tried to find out his results by going to the clinic address, but a new team is in place.
“The secretary told me: “We will call you back.” I never heard back,” says the resident of Saint-Calixte, in Lanaudière.
A series of errors
- May 17, 2021: The Dr Hofmann requests magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Early June 2021: The doctor closes the door of the Preventia clinic
- June 28, 2021: MRI reveals presence of cancer
- December 2021: Luc Audet’s family doctor reveals to him the results of the June exam
- March 28, 2023: The Dr Hofmann sends letter of apology
- March 30, 2023: The College of Physicians concludes that there was a breach by the doctor
It was only in December 2021 that his sister-in-law pointed out to him that he had a yellow forehead. As he did not feel well, he consulted his family doctor. The latter revealed the results of the examination to him and requested urgent treatment.
The news of cancer hit him like a brick.
“I came out of there and I was in tears. I was cursed not to have been notified,” he said, specifying that it was the responsibility of the Dr Hofmann to follow up.
The building that housed the Preventia and Algomed clinics on St-Faustin Street in St-Jérôme is for sale for $1.2 million.
Photo Agence QMI, Martin Alarie
He was quickly sent to the University of Montreal Hospital Center.
“I thought I was dead. I said: that’s it, it’s over. I made my will during my appointments at the CHUM,” he says.
Operation
Two years later, he is still undergoing treatment and the tumor has progressed to the point of requiring surgery in early January. The sixty-year-old estimates that he has lost seven months of his fight against the disease.
In the month following his diagnosis, he filed a complaint with the College of Physicians. It was only after being contacted by the College investigator that Dr Hofmann received the results of the examination.
During his interrogation, Dr Hofmann explained that the departure of several staff members and the context of COVID-19 could explain his omission.
Luc Audet shows the documents sent by the College of Physicians following the investigation into Dr Adam Hofmann.
Photo Agence QMI, Denis Therriault
The investigation concluded that there was a breach in the doctor’s conduct.
“Unfortunately, the clinic became completely dysfunctional around this time due to understaffing, which is why you did not have an appointment,” he wrote in a letter of apology sent to his patient.
The Dr Hofmann escaped with a letter in his file, to the great dismay of his patient who also denounced the slowness of the process.
The Dr Hofmann and the College of Physicians declined to comment on the matter.