Cancer doctor misread scans

[AB Asks]

A doctor responsible for carrying out breast cancer scans misread 28 results, a report says.
The mistakes have led to a review of almost 2,500 mammograms, amid fears that more may have been flawed.
Criticism has been directed at Trafford NHS Trust in Greater Manchester where the doctor worked and questions have been raised about whether the mistakes should have been identified earlier.
Do you think that the NHS should do more about identifying irresponsible or unprofessional behaviour?

[Octavius]

Is there anything in life, and death... that doesn't?

[samuel23]

Not the point though, is it? The point of this thread was to propotion blame and ignite debate about responsibility and unprofessional behaviour.
My stance is still the same, if there were better staffing levels in the areas that needed it, there would be fewer mistakes. Stop trying to apportion blame on the people at the thin end of the wedge and start to look at those who decide where the money is going.

[samuel23]

doh ~ proportion!!

[kwicky]

Another government organisation not fit for purpose! I bet you wouln't get this in a private hospital. I changed my views...lets privatise the health service but remain free at the point of use.

[Octavius]

Sam, I presume you are venting your frustrations at the Q and not my post? If not then you have misunderstood me or misread my posts. What do you mean when you refer to the �thin end of the wedge�? Do you mean the doctor? If so, do you not think that he should be at the very least never allowed to do that job again?

My posts were referring (as I understand the question) to the role of the NHS Trust or PCT which must take responsibility for the fact they appointed someone whom their own staff identified as being incompetent but was allowed to continue in post. This is negligence and our courts are able to protect us from that.

What else would you suggest? � Octavius 2007

[Octavius]

Dear me, losing my touch.

That should be � Octavius MMVII

[garner]

i just feel so sorry for the people who have been misread.their lives must be in turmoil

[lector]

The AB Asks question is -

�Do you think that the NHS should do more about identifying irresponsible or unprofessional behaviour�

Did the report say that it was irresponsible / unprofessional behaviour? - or is this an AB judgement?

Definition of the word 'irresponsible'
1. done without, or showing no, concern for the
consequences; reckless; careless.
2. not able to bear responsibility; not reliable or
trustworthy.

I do not have access to the Report.

Mistakes are made by professionals in life - they are human like the rest of us - if a pilot makes a judgement error .... the plane + 300 passengers may crash - similar to a train driver - if a social worker gets it wrong, then vulnerable people, sick/elderly/young may suffer ......

It happens in real life and it is terrible especially for the families involved, but the issues to deal with -

Prevention of a repeat

and, the behaviour to watch is -

How does Government / the Profession involved / the Individual concerned react? .... and address the issue(s) arising and increase safeguards for the future.

[beryllium]

Prevention of repeat?

Q:How does the government concerned react?
A: Bury it quick!

Q: How does the profession involved react?
A: They will say sorry, but it's just a word and meaningless to them. Or..... they pay another claim.

Q: How does the individual/victim react?
A: They go to a no win/no fee lawyer or they accept the apology.

Q: Will it happen again?
A: Yep.

Did this particular incident happen through irresponsible behaviour.
From Lectors definition it sure looks like it. Why? because the complaints made against the practitioner were ignored so the PCT were most definately irresponsible and certainly not ignorant of the facts.

Not able to bare responsibility?
Not reliable or trustworthy?
The other professionals were very aware this doctor was not practising a good care ethic and they reported it.

Yes we are human but we trust these professionals to care and read the results. That is what they are paid to do!!!

I worked with money. A LOT of money for years. We were not allowed to make a mistake.

Life? oh well........

Prevention of repeat?

Spin it.

[smiffy65]

if you read this you may find that he was not the only consultant radiologist that misread the scans,bcause the hospital was concerned about him double checks on his diagnosis would be made, so what happened?


http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1 3566148,00.html

[smiffy65]

now tell me does the blame lie on the one consultantant radiologist

[beryllium]

No.
I think in a nutshell? it'll be the auditors fault lol

[smiffy65]

no probably the administraters and the cleaners

[alijangra]

Why name and shame someone? Im quite sure the individual doctor has been investigated and dealt with by the appropriate people. I strongly disagree that the doctor acted irresponsibly or unprofessionally unless there is evidence to suggest that they did anything other than make a mistake. We all make mistakes, some with greater consequences than others. And for the truly enlightened person who suggests healthcare staff signed up to work under extreme pressures, I suggest they try having some empathy and imagine what it is like trying to make life or death decisions when you barely have time to breathe yourself. Take it from one who knows.

[beryllium]

Apologies AB.

Alijangra, with respect please.

and if it was you it had happened to? you would be all forgiving with your greatness for empathy of course.

anyway, some of us have already proportioned the blame.

Having read the site posted by smiffy.

Whose fault was it please?

[Octavius]

I would suggest that some of you above find a summary of the report.

1. Human error yes, but not perpetually for 17 months.
2. The PCT allowed this continue despite warnings from colleagues
3. This amounts to negligence on behalf of the doctor AND the PCT, not just a slight hiccup in the medical process.
4. A pilot has a split second to make decisions (ditto a train driver), this doctor had slightly more time I would suggest. The PCT had a year and a half.
5. A social worker would be dragged through the court, reprimanded and out of work (see Victoria Climbie case)
6. Did the NHS/PCT act irresponsibly and unprofessionallly in identifying the mistakes of one of their doctors? Yes. It took far too long and cost the life of a patient.

[alijangra]

Im just saying blaming the individual is not the right thing to do, unless he did it intentionally or with malice. We all make mistakes. By all means the PCT can be taken to task for the way they deal with the situation.
As a matter of fact my father was given an IV infusion of the wrong meds when he was seriously ill, so I have been in a situation where mistakes have been made. I have also witnessed mistakes made by colleagues and trust me any healthcare worker that has made a mistake feels sick when they realise they may have put some ones life at risk. Im just saying its not an easy job. Of course mistakes should be highlighted, but we should learn from them and use the experience to improve things rather than living in a blame culture where everyone gets dragged over the coals and named in a newspaper to become a target for abuse. That way we might just be able to weed out the Shipman's of this world rather than turning every medic who makes a genuine mistake into some kind of criminal.