NEGLIGENT NHS KILLS AGAIN

THE family of a teenager who was exposed to massive overdoses of radiation during treatment for cancer blamed her death on hospital chiefs yesterday. Lisa Norris, 16, died at home on Wednesday, after receiving at least 17 overdoses of radiation during treatment for a brain tumour at the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow. Her father, Ken Norris, said that she died after the cancer returned, but believed that it was a direct result of the hospital blunder and not a natural recurrence of the disease.

Eight months ago, Lisa and her family were celebrating after doctors said that a course of radiotherapy had destroyed a tumour in her brain. However, days later, consultants from the centre visited Lisa at her home in Girvan, Ayrshire, and told her that on every visit she had been exposed to a level of radiation 65 per cent higher than prescribed. Recalling the visit, Lisa said: "I asked them if I was going to die, but they ignored me. When I asked a second time if I would be here in five years, they said they could not answer."

NHS Greater Glasgow admitted at the time that the overdoses, which were administered by three different physicians and went unnoticed by two hospital administrators, were simply human error. It is now bracing itself for legal action from Lisa's parents, and the possibility of further legal actions from dozens of other patients. It has disclosed that there have been 46 incidents over the past 20 years during radiotherapy treatment, including 14 cases in which patients were given overdoses.

Mr Norris described Lisa as an inspiration. He said: "She kept us going in many ways. She was so positive and strong." He added: "We knew things were not looking good but we never expected Lisa to pass away so soon. We had hoped to see Christmas."

Professor Sir John Arbuthnott, the chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow, said that staff were "extremely upset" to hear of Lisa's death. He said: "I have passed on my condolences to the family on behalf of the whole organisation."

The overdoses left Lisa with bright red sores and blisters on her ears, head and neck. She also had difficulty sleeping because of a constant burning sensation inside her. She needed to take cold showers in an attempt to cool down but maintained her good humour, even as the symptoms grew worse. After trying on a blonde wig, Lisa, who had ginger hair until it fell out, said: "I always hated my hair colour. Anyway, I have such a red face and head now that it would have clashed."

Lisa became ill again last month and returned to hospital for emergency surgery for fluid on the brain. Doctors told her that the tumour had returned and offered her chemotherapy, but by then the cancer had spread to her spine and other parts of her body. Mr Norris said: "When she was in hospital recently, a doctor told us the overdose might have been to blame for the problems she developed. "One of the hardest things is that Lisa has died when there are still so many unanswered questions. But we will continue the fight for truth and for justice in her name."

The Scottish Executive has begun an independent investigation, which a spokesman said was in its final stages.

Source

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For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL hospitals and health insurance schemes should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the very poor and minimal regulation. Both Australia and Sweden have large private sector health systems with government reimbursement for privately-provided services so can a purely private system with some level of government reimbursement or insurance for the poor be so hard to do?

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