Decision Report 201705815

Summary

Ms C, who is an advocacy and support worker, complained on behalf of her client (Mr A) about the care and treatment Mr A had received at Raigmore Hospital. Mr A had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ms C complained that a consultant oncologist (a doctor who specialises in cancer treatment) unreasonably told Mr A that radiotherapy (a treatment using high-energy radiation) he had received for his cancer had not worked and that he should take pazopanib (a drug used to treat kidney cancer). Mr A considered that the radiotherapy had been effective and that he should be given further radiotherapy treatment.

We took independent advice from a consultant uro oncologist (a doctor who specialises in treating cancers of the urinary system and male reproduction system). We found that it had been reasonable for the board to consider that the radiotherapy had not been effective and that Mr A should take pazopanib. We found that there had not been any failings in Mr A’s management by the board. His decision not to take pazopanib was also respected by the clinicians and he was given further radiotherapy. We did not uphold Ms C's complaint.