Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Cancer

An abnormal growth was recognised on Miss J’s cervix during examinations while she was pregnant. No further investigations were carried out and she was informed that this was benign. Despite complaining of gynaecological problems over the next year still no investigations were carried out. Eventually her GP referred her to back to hospital where a biopsy confirmed that she was suffering from stage 2 cervical cancer. She has been advised she has a 50% chance of survival. An investigation is ongoing into whether the hospital were negligent in failing to carry out further investigations into the growth on the cervix, and if they had done so, if earlier treatment would have led to a better outcome for her.