Southland Hospital missed cancer signs in multiple scans

A man developed terminal lung cancer after Southland Hospital missed signs of the disease in his scans over five years. Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Vanessa Caldwell found that Health NZ Southern violated the man's patient rights. The man, referred to as Mr. A, received numerous scans and X-rays between May 2017 and October 2022. Despite this, his cancer was not detected until it reached stage four. He was informed he had limited time left due to the advanced stage of his illness. One doctor involved in Mr. A's care expressed deep regret about the missed diagnosis. Follow-up action only took place after scans and X-rays showed serious problems in the last month of testing.