Prostate Misdiagnosis May Be 'Tip Of Iceberg'
Hopsital Misdiagnosis
31/07/2008
A Carmarthen hospital has been forced to review up to 500 prostate biopsy results, after it was found that a number of patients have been wrongly diagnosed.
Following errors in the pathology department of West Wales General Hospital, it has been revealed that some patients have prostate cancer after being wrongly given the all clear. Others, who were originally led to believe they had cancer have now discovered there was no malignancy and have undergone unnecessary treatment.
Medical negligence expert, Tim Deeming, from national law firm Irwin Mitchell, has now been instructed to act on behalf of a patient who has been affected by the mix-up.
He explains: "I know of two patients who have been misdiagnosed and expect to hear from others, as these incidents are, in all likelihood, just the tip of the iceberg. It is our understanding that of the 500 reviews carried out by Carmarthenshire NHS Trust, now known as Hywell Dda NHS Trust, up to 70 patients may have been given the wrong diagnosis.
"I have been instructed to investigate the case of a 58 year old man from Llanelli, who has recently been given the devastating news that he has cancer after being told more than a year ago that there was no cause for concern.
"Understandably, he and his family are extremely upset by the news and in particular the delay in treatment which could have implications on his long term prognosis."
The patient, who has not been named, was referred to the privately run Werndale Hospital in Carmarthen in February 2007 by his GP after suffering symptoms which required further investigation. A number of tests, including a biopsy, were carried out and samples were forwarded to the NHS-run West Wales General Hospital for histopathology testing, which were subsequently reported as being clear of any signs of malignancy.
However in March 2008, he received a letter from Carmarthenshire NHS Trust admitting there were a number of errors in biopsy specimen results. On re-checking, it was confirmed that unfortunately he was suffering from prostate cancer.
Tim Deeming added: "To add further insult to injury, there seems to be no urgency on the part of the Trust to offer immediate treatment for these patients who, through no fault of their own, have had their diagnoses delayed.
"My client has had to fight to get an urgent MRI scan and even now, some four months after the original failings came to light, he is still awaiting urgent oncology treatment."