Fatal Bone Cancer - 16 Month Delay

BONE CANCER; DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS; DEATH

£127,500 to the deceased's estate for delay in diagnosis of bone cancer in right thigh.

FR v EAST SOMERSET NHS TRUST

Mr H aged 51 was referred by his GP with pain in the right thigh. He was investigated at hospital by x ray and diagnosed as suffering from fibrous dysplasia. 15 months later he returned to hospital with ongoing pain and was reassured. A month later he suffered a spontaneous hip fracture and following x ray at a different hospital was diagnosed with cancer in his right thigh. His thigh was removed.

19 months after removal of his thigh he was diagnosed as suffering a recurrence of cancer. Two years later he was diagnosed with secondary lung cancer, the primary cancer being in the thigh. The cancer then spread to his brain and he died just over two years after the lung cancer was diagnosed and six years after his bone cancer had been first diagnosed.

BREACH OF DUTY

It was argued that the hospital were negligent in failing to diagnose the thigh cancer after the first x ray leading to a 16 month delay in diagnosis and treatment.

CAUSATION

It was argued that had treatment taken place 16 months earlier spread of the cancer to the lungs and brain would not have happened and death from the cancer avoided.

OUTCOME

The hospital admitted they should have diagnosed the cancer earlier however denied that earlier diagnosis would have avoided the spread and ultimately death.

The case was settled for £127,500