Medical mix-up means woman told has six months to live (Updated)

Health Minister Popi Kanari ordered an immediate investigation on Friday after a patient complained they were wrongly diagnosed with metastatic cancer and told they have six months to live.

“This is a particularly serious report,” Kanari told reporters during an event, saying she gave strict orders to the state health services (Okypy) to investigate the matter.

According to Philenews, a medical mix-up caused the woman to be given the biopsy results belonging to another patient.

The 40-year-old woman was informed that she had metastatic cancer and was given six months to live, the report said.

In a complaint brought by her lawyer, Theodoulos Papavasiliou, he clarified the woman was told she needed chemotherapy and an appointment was booked for her.

This was averted as she received biopsy results ahead of her appointment and the results revealed she was not the patient with cancer.

The shocking case is recorded in a letter from the complainant, sent through her lawyer to the management of the Nicosia general hospital and the Bank of Cyprus (BoC) oncology centre. The letter, sent on Wednesday, calls on the authorities to investigate the circumstances over how the incident unfolded.

Papavasiliou said they would refrain from further statements, out of respect for the work the oncology centre and hospital carry out.

The centre sought to set the record straight in its own announcement, saying the patient had not received chemo – as had been initially reported.

“We do not wish to undermine the upset this has caused. We want to reassure patients and their families that we are treating these allegations with the utmost sensitivity and diligence.”

The woman’s ordeal began in February, when she was referred by her doctor to the BoC oncology centre to have a sample taken for biopsy, which was sent to Nicosia general hospital for testing.

Twenty days later the woman received the diagnosis of metastatic cancer, about which she stated she had reservations, but nonetheless had a chemotherapy appointment.

The incident pointing to medical mismanagement caused tremendous anguish to the woman, as well as to her family, the complainant said, with all requiring support from mental health services for the past four months.

In the letter, her lawyer requests answers in writing and seeks to assign responsibility for the massive mistake. The letter asks for information about the employee who took the biopsy from the 40-year-old woman, as well as the staff member responsible for sending the samples to the hospital.

Clarification is sought on whether the mistake was made at the oncology centre or the Nicosia general.

The unanswered question concerning the identity of the patient who was given the woman’s result and whether or not that person has been informed, and is receiving appropriate treatment, was also raised.

The oncology centre, meanwhile, said upon learning of the patient’s letter it immediately carried out an investigation to verify the data.

According to the centre, the woman did not in fact receive chemotherapy.

“From preliminary investigation it has been confirmed that in principle the patient in question did not receive chemotherapy,” the centre said.

“Without underestimating the disruption that has been caused, we want to assure patients and their families that we are treating these allegations with the utmost sensitivity and diligence,” it added.

“Our main goal, since the beginning of the centre’s operation 25 years ago, has been, and remains, the provision of high-level care to our patients, which is being realised. As soon as the internal investigation is concluded, all directly involved will be informed,” the centre said.