Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Science Negligence Claims

Pathology is the study of disease through the analysis of body tissue, including organs, cells, bodily fluids and their constituents.  Doctors who specialise in this area will usually specialise in one of a number of subspecialisation areas.

Haematology

Haematology is the study of disorders of the blood.  A specialist in haematology is called a haematologist.  Most haematologists treat all disorders of the blood, but some specialise in disorders of the white blood cells (e.g. leukaemia), red blood cells (e.g. anaemia), or platelets and bleeding disorders (e.g. thrombosis, haemophilia).  Some haematologists may subspecialise in cancer and become haematological oncologists.  Stem cells are an increasingly important part of haematology. 

Clinical negligence cases in haematology include, for example, the delay in diagnosis of a particular haematological condition or inappropriate treatment, amongst others.

Histology/histopathology

Histology is the study of tissue and histopathology the study of diseased tissue.  A histopathologist is an expert in looking at tissue samples taken from patients, both at the macroscopic (i.e. to the naked eye) and microscopic (i.e. under the microscope) level, to aid in the clinical diagnosis of a particular condition or disease, its severity and extent.  Histopathologists rely on samples of tissue being taken by biopsy by a patient's treating clinician.  Forensic histopathologists (pathologists) also carry out post mortems, which may be very relevant to a clinical negligence claim or inquest where a patient has died of an uncertain cause. 

As with a cytopathologist, a histopathologist may make a mistake as to what he or she identifies in a particular tissue sample, for example, the nature and/or extent of a cancer.  This type of medical error, provides grounds for a clinical negligence claim.

Cytology/cytopathology

Cytology is the study of cells and specialists in this field are called cytologists.  Cytopathology is the study of diseased cells and is especially important in cancer: for example, a cytopathologist will study the cells from a cervical smear to look for cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, a possible cancer pre-cursor. 

In the context of clinical negligence, as with a histopathologist, a cytopathologist may misinterpret the findings on a microscopy slide and fail to or misdiagnose diagnose a cancer or other condition.

Chemical pathology/biochemistry/clinical chemistry

Chemical pathologists study the biochemistry of the body and are involved in the testing and reporting of various substances in the blood and other bodily fluids, including electrolytes, hormones, enzymes, drug levels, etc., all of which assist in the diagnosis and management of various diseases and illnesses. 

 A chemical pathologist is unlikely to be particularly involved in a clinical negligence case but, on occasion, their expertise may be required in a specific situation e.g. hyperlipidaemia or in an unusual metabolic disorder.

Infectious diseases

The study of infectious diseases includes the study of bacteria (microbiology), viruses (virology), parasites (parasitology) and tropical diseases.  Specialists in these areas of pathology are involved in the diagnosis, management and control of infection.

Important bacterial conditions that involve microbiologists include infections such as meningitis and endocarditis, and specialist microbiologists are able to advise on the diagnosis and management of such conditions.  Medical microbiologists are especially important in hospital-acquired infections, including MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus) and Clostridium difficile infections.   They are also important in the management of tuberculosis (TB).

Virologists study viral infections, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Herpes simplex (HSV), and other viruses, especially the childhood viruses, including mumps, measles, rubella, chicken pox, etc.

Parasitologists study parasites, which are mainly infections that are caught abroad, including tape worms, etc.  Medical mycologists study fungi and tropical diseases specialists study tropical infections, including typhoid, typhus, malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever, which are rare in this country but can be extremely serious.

Immunology

Immunology is the study of the immune system and specialists in this area are called immunologists.  Immunologists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of allergy, immunodeficiency (primary and secondary), autoimmune diseases and organ transplantations.  However, many immunological conditions are very rare and immunologists are unlikely to be involved in a clinical negligence claim very often. 

Genetics

Specialists in the field of genetics are called geneticists, and they study the science of genetics, including hereditary conditions and the transmission of genes.  Clinical cytogenetics involves the microscopic analysis of chromosome abnormalities, including looking for conditions such as Down's Syndrome.  Molecular genetics uses the tools of DNA technology to analyse mutations in genes.  Increasingly, geneticists are involved in the use of genetics in treatment for diseases.  There are many genetic conditions or conditions that have a genetic element, with more being discovered all the time. 

In the clinical negligence context, a geneticist may fail to identify an abnormal mutation in a chromosome on analysis, possibly leading to a wrongful birth claim, for example.

If you believe you may have a medical negligence claim, please contact the team by email at clinnegenquiries@kingsleynapley.co.uk or by calling +44 (0)20 7814 1200.