Doncaster Woman Receives Settlement After Lung Removal Following Misdiagnosis
Doncaster, UK - A doncaster woman has received an out-of-court settlement after undergoing the removal of half her lung and surrounding lymph nodes following a misdiagnosis of cancer. The surgery, performed in September 2020, later proved unneeded, leaving the patient with significant and ongoing respiratory problems.
The woman, identified as Mrs. Flatley, was initially diagnosed with a lung condition and told a biopsy was not possible due to pandemic-related restrictions. She stated her husband twice inquired about the possibility of a biopsy, but was informed it couldn’t be carried out at the time. She was subsequently referred to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital for the major surgical intervention.
“Any plan of care they made, I fully put my trust in their hands and went with whatever they said was my best option, as most people would have done,” Mrs. Flatley said. “This is their profession and expertise so why would I question anything they said?”
Following the operation, Mrs. Flatley experienced a dramatic increase in respiratory issues. “I’ve had asthma since I was 17, but my respiratory problems have increased unbelievably since the surgery,” she explained. “It’s completely floored me. Just talking or walking into the kitchen can set my symptoms off. Sometimes I feel like my lungs are too heavy for my body, other times my breathing difficulties are so bad it’s like I’ve had the operation again.”
Though neither Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust nor the other hospital trust involved admitted liability or causation, a settlement was reached with the assistance of medical negligence lawyers.
Miriam Bi, a director at Medical Solicitors, stated, “This case highlights the devastating consequences that can occur when serious illnesses are misdiagnosed. While medicine is complex, patients deserve appropriate investigations and clear communication before undergoing life-changing surgery. We are pleased with the outcome and that we could help our client secure justice and some answers.”
Dr.Nick Mallaband, acting executive medical director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation trust, acknowledged the distress caused to Mrs. Flatley and her family. He noted the case occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,which presented ”exceptional challenges and restrictions across the NHS,” but emphasized the trust has since “strengthened our clinical processes and communication with patients to ensure their concerns are heard and acted upon.”
