Bone doctor admits his mistake in diagnosing hepatitis C

Published on Tuesday 10 November 2009 21:30

AN OSTEOPATH, who left a woman fearing she would die when he wrongly diagnosed her with hepatitis C, has admitted he made a mistake.

Goran Stal, 48, told the patient she had the deadly liver condition without carrying out the proper tests, the General Osteopathic Council heard. The Swede then "harassed" her at home, making repeated phone calls and leaving voice messages over two weeks, it was claimed.

The GOC's professional conduct committee in London was told he treated Patient A – a woman in her 30s – at his clinic in Forres in May last year. She told the panel she had gone to see Stal for "food testing" because of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

"He came out and said the virus that I had was hepatitis C, and how did I feel about that?

"I was thinking: 'Am I going to die or something?'"

Stal denied harassing her and said he phoned her because he feared she might have had a mental breakdown. He said: "When I phoned her in the evening, which was an agreement we had, she didn't answer and didn't reply to messages. I was very concerned about her."

But Stal admitted his diagnosis was mistaken.

He said he identified a "polymorphism", or genetic abnormality, as the cause of her health problems, and thought it had been caused by hepatitis.

Stal, of Iowa Place, Forres, admits making a diagnosis of hepatitis C not supported by valid tests, communicating that to the patient and not referring her for tests to confirm his diagnosis.

He denies failing to provide her with accurate information relating to hepatitis C and its treatment. He also denies advising her not to tell her GP about the diagnosis.

If he is found guilty of misconduct, he could be struck off the register. The hearing continues.