The Andalucían Health Authority (SAS – Servicio Andaluz de Salud) has agreed to pay compensation of €119,415 to the family of a 59 year old man who died after being on the waiting list for an operation for 15 months.
Following an accident at work, the patient was diagnosed with bladder cancer and his doctor referred him for preferential surgery on December 21st 2001. The SAS sent a request to the Urology Centre in Dos Hermanas, Sevilla, for urography and ultrasound tests on December 27th. However, no appointment was made to see a specialist until June 6th 2002.
The Urologist confirmed the existence of a large tumour and the patient was included on the waiting list on August 6th.
On August 22nd, the patient arrived at the Casualty Department with a discharge from the navel and was in hospital for six days. Due, at this point, to the advanced stage of the tumour, only palliative treatment was possible.
The patient later died from the bladder cancer.
The case was the subject of a criminal complaint. The SAS recognised that, had the tumour been treated in its infancy, the survival rate would have been 60% to 80% with a 60% chance of the condition being cured.
The judge in the case ruled that the medical services had not acted with ‘due care’.