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Cancer patient 'given months to live in error' | Cancer patient 'given months to live in error' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A woman given six months to live by a doctor who told her to plan her funeral says she was called back to hospital 18 months later and told it was a mistake. | |
Margaret Lowbridge, 74, of Oldbury, West Midlands, had chemotherapy for bowel cancer, which she says Prof David Ferry told her was terminal. | |
The Dudley Group NHS trust said more treatment should have been offered. She is now dying after the cancer spread. | The Dudley Group NHS trust said more treatment should have been offered. She is now dying after the cancer spread. |
The Medical Defence Union said Prof Ferry could not comment. | The Medical Defence Union said Prof Ferry could not comment. |
He is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) but currently does not have a licence to practise, meaning he cannot practise in the NHS or prescribe medicines. | He is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) but currently does not have a licence to practise, meaning he cannot practise in the NHS or prescribe medicines. |
The GMC said doctors could voluntarily give up a licence. | The GMC said doctors could voluntarily give up a licence. |
'Counting down' | 'Counting down' |
When Mrs Lowbridge had chemotherapy, she developed a deep tissue infection and the treatment was withdrawn. She said that in June 2013 Prof Ferry told her she had lived her life and should contact a Macmillan nurse for palliative care. | |
She said: "I was left counting down the months until my anticipated death which never arrived." | She said: "I was left counting down the months until my anticipated death which never arrived." |
Law firm Medical Accident Group, which represents Mrs Lowbridge, said in December last year she received a letter from Russells Hall Hospital inviting her to attend a follow-up appointment. | Law firm Medical Accident Group, which represents Mrs Lowbridge, said in December last year she received a letter from Russells Hall Hospital inviting her to attend a follow-up appointment. |
She said she was told Prof Ferry no longer worked for the trust and that she should have been offered further treatment. | She said she was told Prof Ferry no longer worked for the trust and that she should have been offered further treatment. |
Paula Clark, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The trust is only aware of one ongoing case where Professor Ferry's advice has been questioned. | Paula Clark, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The trust is only aware of one ongoing case where Professor Ferry's advice has been questioned. |
"Clearly, the trust cannot comment on an individual case. Professor Ferry was employed by Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust and has not worked at The Dudley Group since October 2013." | "Clearly, the trust cannot comment on an individual case. Professor Ferry was employed by Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust and has not worked at The Dudley Group since October 2013." |
She said the trust "wouldn't normally comment on individual staff" but as could be seen on the GMC's website Prof Ferry "has conditions" with the medical body. | She said the trust "wouldn't normally comment on individual staff" but as could be seen on the GMC's website Prof Ferry "has conditions" with the medical body. |
He is currently working for a US drug firm and has interim restrictions on his registration, pending a full hearing before the GMC. | He is currently working for a US drug firm and has interim restrictions on his registration, pending a full hearing before the GMC. |
The restrictions include getting GMC approval for any post that he accepts which requires GMC registration in or outside the UK. He is also barred from undertaking any private practice. | The restrictions include getting GMC approval for any post that he accepts which requires GMC registration in or outside the UK. He is also barred from undertaking any private practice. |
There is no evidence the restrictions relate to his treatment of Mrs Lowbridge. | There is no evidence the restrictions relate to his treatment of Mrs Lowbridge. |
The chief executive of Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals Trust David Loughton, who employed Prof Ferry, said he was not aware of any further cases but could not comment for legal reasons. | The chief executive of Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals Trust David Loughton, who employed Prof Ferry, said he was not aware of any further cases but could not comment for legal reasons. |
The Medical Defence Union, which provides legal cover for doctors including Prof Ferry, said he "is unable to comment due to his duty of confidentiality to his patient". | The Medical Defence Union, which provides legal cover for doctors including Prof Ferry, said he "is unable to comment due to his duty of confidentiality to his patient". |