Over dosing of radiation in cancer treatment is putting patients at risk
15/05/2006
Over two hundred cancer sufferers have been seriously injured or killed by overdoses of radiation in the last six years.
And it seems that over-dosing of radiation is becoming more common at cancer centres nationwide.
One cancer centre in Scotland has reportedly given a large number of patients dangerously high doses of radiation.
An Inquiry is currently being held to investigate concerns about treatment given at Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow.
The overdoses given recently to one patient reportedly left her with burned skin and in constant pain.
It is thought that serious mistakes have been made, where the amount of radiation given was much greater than intended. These mistakes have been reported to the Scottish Executive.
The Greater Glasgow Health Board admitted there had been a number of serious incidents.
It is thought that in a number of cases radiation treatment continued because the probability of the benefits of tumour control or cure significantly outweighed any potential side effects of radiation.
Relatives of victims are calling for a better monitoring system in order that lessons are learned from every mistake.
A relative of one of the affected patients said that she believes the majority of accidents are caused by poor working conditions including staff shortages and poorly maintained equipment.
Alexander Harris has seen a rise in the number of cases of people who have been given incorrect doses of radiation during cancer treatment over the past year, including a cancer patient who was given an overly large dose of radiation during chemotherapy treatment at a Birmingham hospital.
"Having treatment for cancer is an experience which is already harrowing, without the added complication of being given an incorrect dosage leading to additional pain and suffering," said specialist misdiagnosis solicitor Zoe Holland.
"That such a high number of serious mistakes have been made at one centre is very worrying. It's a clear sign that better monitoring is needed."
"We have seen a rise in the number of cases of people who have received incorrect doses of radiation for cancer treatment over the last year. We are currently looking into the case of a cancer patient who was given an overly high dose of radiation at a hospital in the West-Midlands."
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