Decision Report 201508808

  • Case ref:
    201508808
  • Date:
    July 2016
  • Body:
    A Medical Practice in the Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board area
  • Sector:
    Health
  • Outcome:
    Not upheld, no recommendations
  • Subject:
    clinical treatment / diagnosis

Summary

Mr A's mother and partner complained about the care that Mr A received from the medical practice after he visited them with a number of different symptoms including tiredness, sweating and backache. Mr A was later diagnosed with testicular cancer and they felt that doctors has incorrectly attributed his symptoms to his existing long-term condition. They were concerned that there had been a failure to conduct appropriate investigations as a result and that an emergency hospital referral should have been made when Mr A's condition deteriorated.

After taking independent advice from a GP, we did not uphold these complaints. We received advice that there was no evidence that doctors had attributed Mr A's symptoms to his existing condition and we found that they had arranged appropriate investigations to determine the cause of his illness. The adviser also considered that the practice had made appropriate timely referrals for Mr A.

Updated: March 13, 2018