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Artist died of cancer following hospital’s misdiagnosis
A CERAMICS artist died after doctors at the Whittington Hospital wrongly diagnosed her as healthy following a lung scan that, it later emerged, already showed signs of cancer.
Rosalind Savage, 66, was found dead in her home in Brecknock Road, Holloway, in November, after her lung cancer wasn’t caught in time.
She had lain undiscovered for more than two weeks, making it difficult for pathologists to investigate her death fully through post-mortem examination.
Ms Savage, who was single and described as “reclusive” at an inquest at St Pancras Coroner’s Court yesterday (Thursday), had won a civil compensation case against the Archway hospital but failed to see a penny before her death.
A spokeswoman for the hospital said they were preparing to negotiate a cash settlement with Ms Savage’s solicitors.
“The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust has admitted liability and is awaiting the appointment of the claimant’s executrix, after which we hope settlement will be swiftly reached,” the spokeswoman added.
Ms Savage’s will indicated that all proceeds should be donated to charity.
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid, reading out doctor’s and lawyer’s reports, said she had suffered a “tumultuous time” fighting the disease in the final months leading up to her death.
The inquest heard how Ms Savage had turned down meetings with her legal team in October because she was wary of catching germs from the outside – her immune system had been weakened by rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.
Acting on her behalf, Sarah Campbell, from solicitors’ firm Leigh Day and Co, said that despite winning funding to receive experimental chemotherapy treatment, it only extended her life by a couple of months.
Dr Freddy Patel, a Home Office pathologist, said he found a lump in Ms Savage’s lung but confirmed her cause of death was unascertainable from the post-mortem examination alone.
Dr Reid, recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. |
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