Published: Just now
A woman in her 50s in Ystad received palliative care for eight months after being – completely wrongly – diagnosed with incurable cancer.
Region Skåne has reported the incident to the Inspectorate for Care and Care according to lex Maria.
It was in November last year that the woman sought care at an emergency room in Ystad, after suffering from abdominal pain, vomiting and sweating for three weeks.
Blood samples were taken, an urgent X-ray examination was carried out and the matter was discussed between various specialists, who assessed that she had suffered from a spread cancer that potentially started from one ovary. All treatment was considered hopeless.
The woman did not want any further investigations, but only asked to receive good palliative care, the region writes on its website.
It was not until eight months later, in connection with a new X-ray examination and further sampling at the university hospital in Lund, that it was discovered that the woman had not been affected by cancer. It turned out that she suffered from a slowly growing bacterial infection in the abdomen that could be treated with antibiotics, which were then administered.
An investigation into the events has shown shortcomings in terms of diagnosis before life-changing decisions and ignorance of an unusual infectious condition.
Measures have been taken to avoid similar incidents, writes Region Skåne.