Bowel Cancer Claim - 5 Month Delay

BOWEL CANCER; FIVE MONTH DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS;

£12,000 for additional pain and suffering during a 5 month delay in diagnosis of bowel cancer.

K V AINTREE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (2005)

K suffered from undiagnosed cancer of the colon.

During an unrelated hospital admission it was noted that K's haemoglobin levels were low. K was referred to a haematologist who diagnosed iron deficiency however no investigations were undertaken.

Three months later K was admitted to hospital complaining of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and weight loss. He was found to have cancer of the colon.

K died of his cancer six months after diagnosis.

BREACH OF DUTY

It was argued that K should have undergone further investigation following identification of his low iron levels and that this would have led to his cancer being diagnosed some five months earlier.

CAUSATION

It was argued that earlier diagnosis would have led to better management of K's symptoms and significant pain and suffering avoided. However his death would not have been prevented as the cancer would have spread to a similar extent even if treated earlier.

OUTCOME

The hospital accepted they should have diagnosed the tumour earlier. Compensation was agreed at £12,000.