A review of hundreds of scans is being conducted at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) after an internal check found that over one-third of a locum radiologist’s work contained errors. The locum consultant’s contract was terminated within 10 days due to concerns raised about the standard of their work by a senior member of staff in the hospital.
A spokesman for the hospital’s Quality and Patient Safety Service says they have a “clear pathway” for addressing any concerns raised regarding clinical care. “In the event that any cases of misdiagnosis come to light patients will be contacted with full open disclosure and appropriate arrangements put in place for follow-up care, in accordance with national policy”, said the spokesman for LUH in a full statement.
If you are a patient who attended LUH whilst the radiologist was employed by the hospital in September 2023, and you are concerned about a potential misdiagnosis, you can do one or more of the following:
- Contact the hospital – If you received scans at Letterkenny University Hospital and are concerned about the accuracy of their diagnosis, you should first contact the hospital to express your concerns. Keep a record of the contact that you have with the hospital.
- Seek a second opinion – If you have doubts about the accuracy of a diagnosis at LUH, you may wish to seek a second opinion from another medical professional. This can help to provide additional reassurance and ensure that any potential misdiagnosis is caught as early as possible.
- Stay informed – The hospital is currently conducting a full review of the relevant clinician’s work to provide assurance regarding patient safety, and patients should be kept informed of any developments. Ask to be kept informed when you contact LUH.
- Seek precautious legal counsel – If you have been misdiagnosed and you are concerned it will have a negative effect on your health and well-being, you should seek the advice of an experienced medical negligence solicitor. Even if LUH has yet to confirm that your scans contain errors, it’s advisable to seek legal counsel to ensure you understand your rights.
Whilst taking these precautionary steps is recommended, it is important to note that the hospital has stated that it will contact patients with full open disclosure and appropriate arrangements for follow-up care if any cases of misdiagnosis come to light.
Contact the McCarthy + Co team
If you have any concerns or questions about your legal rights following a misdiagnosis by a hospital, the medical negligence team at McCarthy + Co will be glad to assist you. Call us on 1800 390 555 and an experienced member of staff will discuss your situation and potential next steps. You can also email info@mccarthy.ie and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
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