Man’s cancer missed 3 times..now it’s terminal
Dail hears of X-ray blunder devastation Free repeat smear tests to end this month
IN THE DAIL YESTERDAY
THE family of a man with terminal lung cancer believe he would not be dying had it not been missed three times in X-rays. The radiologist who was reviewed is not the only radiologist who was involved in his case – there was another doctor who reported in at least one of those scans.
“His symptoms persisted and at the insistence and persistence of his wife, the GP referred him for another X-ray in early 2017 and he was finally diagnosed.
“The error had not been detected by the review and despite the delayed diagnosis he was scheduled for a CT scan for June of that year, months after they identified the misdiagnosis. His wife persisted and she ensured it was brought forward to April.
“They discovered the missed lung cancer had spread to such a rate that it was wrapped around the main artery of his heart.
“He went through what his wife described as horrific treatment but it was too late.
“I am informed he THE HSE wrote to doctors yesterday to warn free repeat smear tests will end on December 31.
In April, Health Minister Simon Harris announced any woman with concerns about her cervical screening could avail of a free consultation and if necessary a repeat test with only has a short time left and the family firmly believes if it had been detected in any of the three earlier X-rays the prognosis would not have been terminal.”
Fianna Fail’s Kerry TD John Brassil believes a lack of HSE resources played a part in the crisis and said somebody must be held to account. He added he is determined the issue is not “brushed any GP registered with Cervicalcheck. However, it has been revealed the services will cease at the end of the year.
The HSE thanked all GPS and healthcare professionals for supporting and providing the services and offering reassurance to any women concerned about their cervical screening. under the carpet” and wants standard operating procedures and working protocols introduced nationwide to prevent a repeat.
He told the Irish Mirror the consultant was using basic scans for the majority of her reviews, meaning more advanced tests that might have revealed cancer earlier were not used.
Mr Brassil said he wants those involved to answer for the disastrous shortcomings.
He asked: “Is there accountability there?
“The HSE might want to brush this under the carpet and hope it just goes away, but we are determined not to let that happen.
“Someone must be held accountable whether it is the consultant or the HSE, as she is probably well gone out of the system.
“Because if the resources weren’t there, the HSE may be just as much to blame as she was.”
He went through what his wife described as horrific treatment but it was too late PEARSE DOHERTY
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