GPs are being asked to pay more attention to the dangers of skin cancer as the true extent of undiagnosed skin cancer cases came to light this week. The Medical Protection Society [which claims to be the world’s leading protection organisation for healthcare professionals]which effectively insured medical professionals against the cost of compensation claims has released alarming statistics about the numbers of medical negligence compensation claims being brought by skin cancer sufferers whose cancer was not diagnosed at all, or diagnosed too late, allowing the cancer to spread to vital organs.
Undiagnosed Skin Cancer – the statistics
The study lists 234 cases of undiagnosed melanoma in a 10-year period from 2001 onwards. Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer leading to over 2000 deaths each year. The number of cases going unnoticed has led the Medicolegal Advisor to the MPS, Dr Richard Stacey to describe a ‘melanoma blackspot’.
Almost 25% of the 234 cases resulted in medical negligence claims of which over 90% were directed against GPs. The particularly worrying thing for medical professionals is that the vast majority of malignant melanoma cases can be treated easily provided that they are caught early. The fact that patients are rightly going to GPs with their concerns only to have their cancer missed is alarming because once the cancer spreads, it is likely to be deadly.
Skin cancer – the risk of sun beds
The MPS hopes that by exposing the situation, those who go to improve their tans abroad or on the nation’s sun-beds will think more carefully about the dangers of skin cancer.
It is hoped that the number of medical negligence claims can be brought down if GPs take more care when taking medical notes and take the time to chase the results of any tests on skin tissue samples that are sent to medical analysts.
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