A Launceston man claims inadequate treatment at the Launceston General Hospital emergency department caused agony and an eventual finger amputation.
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The man’s case has been examined by the Office of the Health Complaints Commissioner and referred to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Jack Crouch was involved in a workplace accident in November 2014 when a 400 kilogram oven fell on his hand.
The accident lacerated his index finger and he presented at the LGH ED.
Mr Crouch alleged he was told there was "nothing wrong" with his finger by a doctor whose conduct is being assessed by AHPRA.
"Because [the doctor] said everything was fine, I thought it was a bit weird because I couldn't bend my finger," he said.
Mr Crouch says he questioned the doctor as to why he could not bend his injured finger "four or five times".
The 23-year-old claims he saw a GP two days later and was advised to return to hospital as his tendon had snapped.
He said his entire arm had become infected and he needed to spend two weeks in hospital.
Following the workplace accident, he said he required 10 operations in 10 months.
Mr Crouch alleged the ED doctor did not follow protocol and have his hand assessed by a specialist.
He had his finger amputated in October 2015. Mr Crouch lodged a complaint about the doctor to the Health Complaints Commissioner in early 2016.
Correspondence from the Office of the Health Complaints Commissioner in June said a Clinical Assessment Committee found it appeared the doctor at the LGH ED failed to diagnose ruptured tendons and did not take appropriate actions.
The committee also found another clinician's decision to delay intravenous antibiotics may have influenced the outcome of the injury.
Documents obtained by Fairfax Tasmania show a health complaints resolution officer from the Office of the Health Complaints Commissioner contacted Mr Crouch earlier this month.
The letter shows the Medical Board of Australia was notified of the complaint, and told Mr Crouch he would be contacted by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Additional correspondence showed an AHPRA notifications assessment officer on November 8 wrote a “preliminary assessment” into Mr Crouch’s concerns around the doctor’s performance was underway.
It indicated the Medical Board of Australia would review the complaint about the performance of the practitioner and determine whether he “failed to properly assess and treat [the] right index finger following a work related injury, resulting in the eventual amputation of the finger”.
An AHPRA spokeswoman said the body did not comment on individual cases.
A Tasmanian Health Service spokesman said: “Given that this matter is currently before AHPRA, it is not appropriate for the THS to make comment at this stage.”
Mr Crouch said the ordeal has led to ongoing emotional issues.
“[Since] it got amputated, I’ve been very angry about it,” Mr Crouch said.
Mr Crouch, who now lives in South Australia, said he had been forced to give up a career as a bricklayer.
He said he regularly had to deal with comments and looks directed at his hand since the finger was amputated last year.
Mr Crouch said a doctor recommended he make a complaint regarding the ED doctor’s conduct.
