Mrs J attended her GP practice at various intervals for 12 months complaining of continuing neuropathic pain in the right leg. Despite repeated visits to her GP, no referral was made to the musculoskeletal service or Orthopaedic service for further investigations. Instead, the Defendant GP prescribed Gabapentin.
Diagnosis
Around 6 months later, Mrs J presented to A & E as she felt a crack in her right hip. She was ultimately diagnosed with a Grade III primary chondrosarcoma of the right proximal femur, a cancer in the thigh bone. She required amputation of the leg in an attempt to stop the cancer spreading.
Unfortunately CT scan a few months later showed extensive recurrence of cancer and she passed away not long afterwards.
Mrs J’s Case
On behalf of her estate, our case was that, had Mrs J been correctly referred, she would have been diagnosed with the chondrosarcoma and undergone surgery to replace the diseased bone at least one year sooner. She would have avoided the right femur fracture and the need for amputation, which would have significantly improved her quality of life. She would have lived significantly longer.
Court proceedings were issued on behalf of Mrs J’s estate and we secured a settlement for our client and a letter of apology from the defendant.