Ovarian Cancer Claim - 32 Month Delay

OVARIAN CANCER; DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS; DEATH

£120,000 to widower following wife's misdiagnosis, decline, and death.

B V D SHARP AND CHRISTIE HOSPITAL NHS TRUST (2004)

Aged 48 Mrs B's routine cervical smear was reported as containing psammoma bodies. Mrs B was referred to a gynaecologist to consider ovarian/endometrial tumour.

Hysteroscopy was reported as normal.

18 months later having had one clear cervical smear a further smear was reported as containing psammoma bodies. No investigation other than a follow up smear in a further 12 months was recommended.

12 months later (now 30 months after the original smear containing psammoma bodies) repeat smear contained pasmmoma bodies and referral was made to gynaecologist.

On laparotomy tumour was identified which had spread throughout the bowel and abdomen. The tumour was thought to have originated as an ovarian tumour.

Mrs B underwent repeated chemotherapy, and radical hysterectomy. Mrs B survived four years from diagnosis.

BREACH OF DUTY

The first gynaecologist accepted that he had not undertaken proper investigations to exclude ovarian cancer. He should in addition to hysteroscopy (designed to look for endometrial cancer) have undertaken blood marker (CA125) tests, laparoscopy, and peritoneal washings.

In view of the gynaecologist's admissions the claim against the hospital for failing to advise follow up investigations following abnormalities on the subsequent cervical smear was withdrawn.

CAUSATION

It was argued that proper investigation would have identified ovarian tumour 32 months earlier and that proper treatment would have prevented the spread of tumour and death.

This was denied by the Defendant.

OUTCOME

An out of court settlement was agreed at £120,000