Dr. Amrik Singh Tung, the BC Liberal candidate in the Surrey-Green Timbers riding, is among four doctors named in a negligence lawsuit by a Surrey woman who suffered a failed pregnancy four years ago.
Saroj Bala, a refugee claimant from India who arrived in June 2008, filed a December 23, 2010, BC Supreme Court statement of claim against Tung, Dr. Reena Khurana, Dr. Maria Bleszynski and Dr. Winston Tam. Tung is hoping to succeed incumbent NDP MLA Sue Hammell in Tuesday's election and has denied Bala's allegations.
The lawsuit said Tung was the primary physician who participated in the assessment, diagnosis, care and treatment of Bala after she became pregnant in early 2009.
"Dr. Tung did not fill out the patient chart properly and noted the wrong obstetric history formula for Ms. Bala's pregnancy," said Bala's claim.
"Apart from checking Ms. Bala twice, Dr. Tung did not see the patient at all. Dr. Tund [sic] did not refer the plaintiff to an obstetrician on time. Dr. Tung did not conduct routine pre-natal tests on Ms. Bala. Dr. Tung did not conduct any fetal screening and monitoring tests and did not even conduct any urine analysis."
Bala's claim said results of the ultrasound were normal, but around the 26th week, she claimed to feel swelling and no fetal movement. She was finally operated on May 23, 2009 – almost 72 hours after being informed that she was carrying a fetus that had been dead six weeks.
The filing also said Bala had been treated for gestational diabetes. She claimed it took six months for the autopsy report's release and that she underwent psychiatric treatment.
The allegations have not been proven in court. Tung did not respond to repeated interview requests made to his campaign office and medical office.
Tung's credits include a 1984 medical degree from India's Guru Nanak Dev University. He has practiced in Surrey since 1991.
Tung and the other defendants denied they were negligent or in breach of duty.
"All medical procedures carried out by them with respect to the plaintiff were appropriate to the circumstances and in accord with standard medical practice," said the January 23, 2012 statement of defence.
Bala was blamed for "failing to follow medical advice to make appointments and return for follow-up visits and failing to advise Drs. Tung and Khurana, or any other physician, that the plaintiff felt there was reduced or lack of fetal movement."
The defence filing said that Bala consulted Tung on January 14, 2009, when she was 13 weeks pregnant, and that Tung advised Bala and husband Pardeep Kumar in Punjabi that he would be responsible for prenatal care until the 21st or 22nd week of Bala's pregnancy. It said that he also saw her on January 21, 2009, and March 9, 2009, when he referred her to obstetrician Dr. Peter Ho.
The filing said Tung was never advised about any reduction in fetal movement or swelling.
"Neither Ms. Bala nor Mr. Kumar ever attended at Dr. Tung's office to advise him that they had any concerns about Ms. Bala's pregnancy or the care provided by Dr. Khurana," said the defence document.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC is also considering a complaint about Tung's handling of the Bala file.
