Fatal delay in diagnosing renal cancer

Case studies

Fatal delay in diagnosing renal cancer


We are pursuing in the High Court a claim arising from a missed diagnosis of renal cancer. Our client has tragically died as a result and we now pursue the claim on behalf of his widow and estate.

He was diabetic and underwent investigations at his local hospital that revealed malignant cysts on a kidney and the spread of cancer to his lungs. The results were filed and not reported to our client or his GP. A year later he suffered a black out whilst driving and only when the GP chased the hospital for the test results from the previous investigations did they finally come to light. In fact, further investigation showed the cysts were originally identified by the hospital in 1991 and incorrectly reported as benign.

By the time the true diagnosis was made, it was too late and only palliative care could be offered. With proper treatment, the kidney should have been removed and if this had happened before the cancer spread to the lungs, our client would have survived.


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Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP