108 received compensation for delayed cancer diagnosis

Laboratory.Photo: Pixabay

A total of 108 patients and their families have received compensation because they received delayed diagnosis and improper treatment of lung cancer in the period 2012-2015.

– Misinterpretation of test results is the main cause of pursuance in lung cancer cases, said director Rolf Gunnar Jørstad of the Norwegian health compensation organisation (NPE).

Misinterpretation represent a third of the cases that have been upheld.

The error occurred when interpreting images and tissue samples. Such errors lead to findings being overlooked or misinterpreted.

– We know that early diagnosis and treatment is important for fighting cancer. Wrong interpretation of images and samples in these cases has unfortunately led to the cancer diagnosis being given too late, says Jørstad.

Mistakes made in the follow-up of lung cancer patients have major consequences. 71 percent of those who upheld, died early or got poorer prospects of surviving the disease, said NPE.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today