Apology requested after NHS Highland patient was given wrong diagnosis
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A family who were told by a clinician that their mother had a brain tumour have complained after it was discovered that she had actually suffered a stroke.
The Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO) has told NHS Highland to apologise to the family for its error, and for not correcting the mistake for seven days.
The family asked to remain anonymous.
In a report published last week the complainer was named simply as “C” throughout, while the patient was identified as “A”.
In its report the Ombudsman said: “C complained on behalf of their parent (A) about the care and treatment A received at Raigmore Hospital.
“C was concerned that A was told by the hospital, following a CT scan, that they had a brain tumour, and likely metastases due to their lung cancer, when it later became apparent after an MRI scan that A had a stroke rather than a brain tumour.
“We took independent advice from a consultant radiologist, a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating disease and injury through the use of medical imaging techniques such as X-rays and other scans, and a consultant in acute medicine.”
They added: “We found many aspects of A’s care and treatment to be reasonable.
“However, the CT scan report stated there was uncertainty over a diagnosis of metastases and that an MRI scan should be carried out.”
Despite this, it said, in the hours following, the initial diagnosis appeared to become ever more fixed.
“Over a 24-hour period, a diagnostic momentum increased,” the ombudsman said.
“This meant whilst there was uncertainty around this diagnosis it was not picked up by successive clinicians and the working diagnosis became more certain despite a confirmatory MRI having yet to be carried out.
“A and their family were led to believe by successive clinicians over a seven-day period that A had a brain tumour when this was not certain.
“Therefore, we upheld C’s complaint.”
A spokeswoman for the SPSO added: “We asked NHS Highland to apologise to C for the failure of successive clinicians to pick up on the fact the CT brain scan was uncertain around the diagnosis of a metastasis which led them to convey to A and their relatives that it was definitive.
“In future, the board should ensure CT scans commenting on diagnostic uncertainty should not be taken as definitive in their diagnostic conclusion.”
