Why was 90 miles too far to save Anne’s life?
Widower’s anguish at failure to send wife for tests
A WIDOWER has condemned a doctor for cancelling tests which could have saved his dying wife – because the hospital was too far away.
Patricia Anne Porter, 67, died shortly after being taken to A&E with severe breathing difficulties.
Despite showing symptoms of a blood clot, the grandmother was sent home after a senior doctor at Dr MacKinnon Memorial Hospital on Skye overruled a colleague’s recommendation to send her for a CT scan.
Dr Leo Murray decided not to send Mrs Porter for the test 90 miles away at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. He later admitted if she could have been tested ‘down the corridor’, he would have referred her.
NHS Highland apologised ‘unreservedly’ following the blunder but it is understood Dr Murray was not suspended and kept his job until he retired.
Last night, after receiving a six-figure settlement from NHS Highland, Mrs Porter’s husband Ronald said he was ‘shocked’ that 90 miles was too far to send his wife to save her life.
The 69-year-old said: ‘My family has been devastated by Anne’s untimely death,’ adding that what had made the ordeal worse was the knowledge that it could have been entirely avoidable.
‘We received the correct diagnosis from another doctor and for this to be overturned despite our pleas is unforgiveable,’ he said.
‘I don’t understand why this doctor cancelled the scan that could have saved her life simply because the hospital was 90 miles away. It is a disgrace and a decision which meant I had to watch my beloved wife die in my arms.’
Mrs Porter was taken to hospi- tal on July 19, 2011, after suffering severe shortness of breath at home in Balmacara, Ross-shire.
She was examined by rural practitioner Dr Jacqueline Bennebroek and tests showed her condition could be due to a blood clot or pulmonary embolism.
The retired college lecturer was given a blood thinner before Dr Bennebroek suggested she be transferred to Raigmore.
Later that day, however, Dr Murray took over her treatment and said he believed Mrs Porter was suffering from the lung con- dition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He told her he saw no evidence of a blood clot and discharged her on July 21, despite her husband’s pleas for further investigation.
Mr Porter said: ‘Anne was really struggling to breathe.
‘When Dr Murray decided to send her home I was aghast. She couldn’t even walk out of the hospital without being in great distress and needing assistance but Dr Murray maintained he was doing the right thing.’
The health board’s critical inci- dent review report found it is very likely Mrs Porter had multiple blood clots over several months.
The misdiagnosed clot partially dissolved after she left hospital but she died from another clot after collapsing nine days after being discharged.
The report concluded that Mrs Porter’s recurring blood clots did not produce the usual symptoms, making them harder to diagnose. But it added: ‘The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism could have been made in the circumstances. The diagnosis was considered and, unfortunately, rejected.’
Dr Murray had accepted he made a ‘diagnostic mistake’.
Karyn McPhee, a solicitor with law firm Slater & Gordon, which represented the family, said a ‘fundamental and inexcusable error’ had been made.
Dr Paul Davidson, clinical director for North and West Highland, said: ‘We carried out a review and made i mmediate changes to care provided by Dr MacKinnon Memorial Hospital.
‘An investigation by the General Medical Council and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has ensured lessons learned in Mrs Porter’s case have helped create a safer environment for the care of this condition across Highland.’
‘Death was entirely avoidable’