Surgeon faces probe over breast cancer treatment

Surgeon faces probe over breast cancer treatment

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

A woman who died of breast cancer following a nine-month delay in her diagnosis voiced concerns about her young daughter and her will shortly before she passed away.

By Kevin Keane

Her consultant breast surgeon is facing allegations that he failed to carry out a full investigation on the woman, known only as Ms K.

A Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry has heard the consultant initially decided not to carry out a mammogram on her and instead opted for a ultrasound and asked her to return to see him three months later.

The consultant is on sick leave from work and can only be identified as Dr C, upon the direction of the inquiry.

It heard that Ms K, who was aged 40 at the time, was referred to the surgeon by her GP in Jul 2007 after complaining of lumps in her left breast.

Before seeing Dr C in August, she failed to attend two earlier appointments and also failed to attend a follow-up appointment made for her in Dec 2007.

However, after being sent for a mammogram and biopsy by Dr C in Jun 2008, she was found to have breast cancer.

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Surgeon faces probe over breast cancer treatment