Two further fatalities linked to cancer screening mistake

It has been revealed that a further two women died of cervical cancer after being wrongly excluded from Scotland’s cervical screening programme.

 

The Scottish government said it was suspected that one developed cancer as a result of her exclusion and in the other case, incorrect exclusion was said to be among several factors that appeared to have led to a diagnosis of cervical cancer.

 

The two cases are in addition to the death of a third woman that was announced in June this year.

 

The government said that up to 200,000 women who were excluded from the screening programme are now to have their records checked to ensure their exclusions were correct.

 

Women’s Health Minister Maree Todd told the Scottish parliament earlier this week that it had become clear that an additional 170 women were also wrongly excluded from screening, bringing the total to around 600.

 

Ms Todd went on to say that there was a “high level of clinical suspicion” that one women may have developed cervical cancer as a result of being incorrectly excluded from screening, although it was not possible to say for certain.

 

She offered her “sincere apologies to all those affected by these errors” adding “In particular, I extend heartfelt apologies to the women who were excluded from the programme who went on to develop cancer, and to their families.  I also recognise the anxiety this will have caused to all those wrongly excluded from screening.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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