Hospital admits negligence after patient death

A woman died after an NHS consultant working at a hospital in Aberystwyth misdiagnosed her cancerous tumour as an ear infection. Patients in Essex receiving medical treatment may be shocked to hear that the woman received treatment for an infection for two years before the error was discovered. After an investigation into the circumstances around her death the hospital admitted to being negligent and agreed to pay an undisclosed settlement amount to the woman’s husband.

A solicitor for the widower reported that, in the opinion of medical experts, tests that would have identified her cancer should have been performed within nine months of her referral to the consultant. If she had been correctly diagnosed within this time period, she could have received effective treatment for the cancer which would have included surgery and radiotherapy. The chances of her surviving the disease would then have been between 90 to 100 per cent.

The Hywel Dda University Health Board apologised to her family for her death and for their failures that resulted in her long-term misdiagnosis. She had been referred to the consultant at Bronglais Hospital after suffering from dizziness. He told her that she had an ear infection called otitis externa and gave her ear drops to treat the condition. He maintained the incorrect diagnosis even after two years and further visits. The hospital admitted to medical negligence and said that they would strive to ensure that their failures would not be repeated.

If a person has been the victim of medical negligence, a solicitor may help gather evidence to prove the client’s case. This might include compiling a comprehensive record of the client’s medical history and seeking the expert opinion of medical professionals in order to show that the level of care was below the standard expected from a competent physician.