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Friday
6th October 2000
A 63
year old woman has won £345,000 at the High Court after having both
breasts removed because of an incorrect diagnosis of cancer. Jennifer
Cormack had a double mastectomy following the error by doctors at the
Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. She also had to have a full
hysterectomy after problems with tamoxifen. Mrs Cormack is planning to
report pathologist, Professor Sir Colin Berry, to the General Medical
Council.
17th
October 2000
A 59
year old woman is suing Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust for £350,000
because she claims she was left disabled by doctors failing to spot that
she had suffered a brain haemorrhage. Isabella Dougan has been left
disabled by the alleged mistake and is now largely confined to a
wheelchair. She claims that her injury was due to the negligence of
medical staff. She says they just gave her some pills and sent her home,
but the hospital disputes liability in the case
23rd September 2000
An investigation is launched
following fears that dozens of human embryos have gone missing from two
clinics in Hampshire. Up to 80 couples could have been affected. The
blunder was discovered when consultants could not find some frozen embryos
for a woman who went for implantation. Health secretary, Alan Milburn, has
ordered a report from the Chief Medical Officer and inquiries are being
held at North Hampshire Hospital and at a private clinic nearby. It is now
feared that some women could have given birth to other people’s
children. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority denies that
this is a possibility
18th September
2000
It’s claimed a one off
payment of £100,000 to children who were brain damaged or disabled
following routine vaccinations is not sufficient. The Association of the
British Pharmaceutical Industry says they should be getting compensation
more in line with what would be awarded in the courts. This would bump
payments up to £1 million
pounds.
15th September
2000
Health Service Ombudsman,
Sir Cecil Clothier, claims a private inquiry into the case of serial
killer Dr Harold Shipman is more likely to get to the truth. The GP was
convicted of fifteen murders and it is suspected that he carried out two
hundred more.
August
2000
Cosmetic
surgeon, David Herbert, has his licence suspended by the General Medical
Council. The action was taken following a large amount of complaints
against him. The GMC is currently reviewing the evidence.
August
2000
A
quarter of struck-off doctors who have applied to rejoin the medical
register have been allowed to return.
August
2000
Steve
Harley is to have is tongue and voice box removed
after doctors missed the signs of oral cancer despite 19
appointments. It is believed the 41 year old from South Yorkshire only has
a fifty-fifty chance of survival. He developed throat pains in July 1999
and was given antibiotics.
August
2000
A
surgeon, sacked last month following allegations he botched 84 operations
and caused 13 deaths, has been allowed back to work on a temporary basis
by the General Medical Council. The GMC says the decision is based on the
fact that Christopher Ingoldby’s technical capability is not in
question. Solicitors for the families are taking the case to health
secretary Alan Milburn.
August
2000
The
Department of Health’s first national audit of hospital equipment found
that more than a third of life-saving machinery is dangerously old. Most
operating tables are more than twenty years old and need to be replaced.
It has been estimated that £1.4 billion needs to be spent on updating
equipment.
July
2000
A
North Yorkshire gynaecologist is found guilty of a catalogue of blunders.
The General Medical Council was accused of not being able to police itself
properly after allowing the doctor to practice in Britain for 14 years
despite being struck off in Canada after the death of two patients.
June
2000
One in
ten hospital admissions become even more ill because of negligence
according to government figures. Estimates show 850,000 patients suffered
adverse events after hospital treatment.
June
2000
Cancer
tests for more than 200 patients were found to be incorrect. 10,000
patients at hospitals in Swindon, Frimley and Bath had their tests
reviewed.
June
2000
A
Commons Health Select Committee reports that many private hospitals have
few back-up facilities and that poor regulations leave patients ignorant
about surgical risks they face at the hands of staff who may not be
competent.
June
2000
New
measures being brought in will mean that incompetent doctors can be banned
quickly from practicing. The Government’s health service reform plans
will introduce a new service to investigate complaints and speed up the
General Medical Council’s disciplinary procedures.
April
2000
Extra
money given to the health service in this year’s budget could be wiped
out by soaring medical negligence claims. It is believed the total now
stands at claims worth £3 billion.
March
2000
The
British Medical Journal reveals that 30,000 people die every year as a
result of medical errors. The figure was arrived at by extrapolating
information in an American survey. 100,000 die in the US every year from
surgical blunders.
March
2000
Graham
Reeves, 70, has the wrong kidney removed by surgeons at the Prince Philip
Hospital in Llanelli. His healthy kidney had to be removed at Swansea’s
Morriston Hospital to try and save his life. He died in Morriston’s
intensive care unit.
March
2000
Ear,
nose and throat surgeon, Julian Upton, 62, escapes disciplinary action by
the General Medical Council because he had been allowed to resign from the
medical register. His work at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton left more
than 100 patients needing further treatment.
February
2000
Former
family doctor, Robert Dickson, 74, is investigated over the deaths of two
women.
February
2000
The
General Medical Council strikes off Dr Harold Shipman. The action was
taken against him for the “abhorrent and cold-blooded” murders of 15
female patients.
The
GMC heard that between 1995 and 1998 he systematically killed his victims.
April
1998 – March 1999
Claims
against Scotland’s 47 health trusts rose from £13.5 million to £24.9
million.
1997
The
Medical Defence Union pays out £77 million in compensation for medical
negligence.
1996
The
Medical Defence Union pays out £41 million in compensation for medical
negligence.
1984
– 1995
Concerns
raised about the quality of cardiac surgery carried out on children at the
Bristol Royal Infirmary. During this period the average death rate was
11%. A major inquiry was held into two of the hospital’s surgeons.
October
1998
A ten
year old boy dies under general anaesthetic at a Scottish dental clinic.
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