Negligent delay in diagnosing breast cancer

We successfully settled a claim for a woman from Redhill in Surrey against her GP for failing to act properly on a lump which she feared might be cancer. The case highlights the need for patients to be persistent where they do not feel their concerns are being fully considered.

Our client had worked in a GP practice and was diligent in regularly checking for lumps. She found a firm lump in her left breast and attended her GP, but the doctor failed to carry out a proper examination. As a result, she did not locate the lump and dismissed our client’s concern. Our client was initially reassured, but over the following few months felt the lump was increasing and re-attended the GP, who did then find the lump and referred our client, but non-urgently.

Thankfully, the consultant to whom she was referred was concerned by the long history and expedited our client’s appointment by several weeks. He arranged investigations that confirmed cancer, but by then she had to undergo a full mastectomy and chemotherapy. We obtained supportive expert evidence that the GP in this case failed in her duty to our client and the case eventually settled.

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