Panagiotopoulos v Rajendram [2006] NSWDC 34

Pending Appeal :

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Panagiotopoulos v Rajendram [2006] NSWDC 34

HEARING DATE(S): 9-11, 14-17 21-23 August 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 28 September 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Rein SC DCJ

DECISION: Verdict and judgment for the defendant.

CATCHWORDS: MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE - claim in respect of psychiatric disorder arising out of death of plaintiff's wife due to cancer and her treatment prior to diagnosis of cancer - alleged failure of general practitioner to appreciate significance of results of tests undertaken by another general practitioner - alleged failure to give appropriate advice - failure to pass on test results to specialist to whom general practitioner referred plaintiff's wife - negligence, causation and "loss of chance" of prospect of cure in third party context - whether psychiatric disorder established

Gavalas v Singh (2001) 3 VR 404; [2001] VSCA 23 Gregg v Scott [2005] 2 AC 176; [2005] UKHL 2 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Nader v Urban Transit Authority of NSW (1985) 2 NSWLR 501 Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269; [1999] HCA 22 New South Wales v Burton [2006] NSWCA 12 CASES CITED: Rowe v McCartney [1976] 2 NSWLR 72 Rufo v Hosking [2002] NSWSC 1041 Rufo v Hosking (2004) 61 NSWLR 678; [2004] NSWCA 391 Shorey v PT Ltd (2003) 197 ALR 410; [2003] HCA 27 Tame v State of New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317; [2002] HCA 35 Tran v Lam (unreported, NSWSC, Badgery-Parker J, 20/6/1997, BC9705945) Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158

PARTIES: Periklis Panagiotopoulos (Plaintiff) Dr Indran Nayagampillay Rajendram (Defendant)