Widow sues over missing cancer scan results
Toni Woods is suing a New Zealand district health board (DHB) after her partner’s CT scans—which showed enlarged nodes on his chest and neck—were lost due to an IT error. After a year of continued illness and not knowing the results of the initial scan, her husband, Lindsay Collinson, visited his cardiologist, who ordered a new scan that revealed metastasized cancer. Within four months, Collinson was dead.
Upon investigation, it was revealed a paper copy was never sent to the ordering physician and even after several attempts from other clinicians, results for the scan were listed as “pending.”
Woods took her case to a lawyer, and though the DHB has taken measures to follow up with other families who may have been affected by the same error, Woods believes Collinson could have been cured or would be alive today.
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As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.