Calvary Hospital has settled with a cancer patient over a grave oversight during her care. Photo: Melissa Adams
The Calvary Hospital has settled with a Canberra mother after a blunder saw her liver cancer missed, allegedly leaving it to aggressively spread to an incurable state.
The patient, Rachael Anne Netting, was told she had just months to live when Calvary realised their mistake earlier this year.
She launched a major negligence case in the ACT Supreme Court, which was treated urgently due to her bleak prognosis.
The parties went into mediation to try and resolve the case without the need for hearing.
It appeared back in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday morning, and the parties informed the court they had settled.
The terms of the settlement, including the dollar amount, are likely to be kept secret, with the family wishing to maintain their privacy.
Mrs Netting, a mother of two young boys, first went to Calvary complaining of abdominal pain in January last year.
Two ultrasounds were completed, one picking up an ovarian cyst, and the other a mass in her liver.
The ovarian cyst was removed, but Mrs Netting allegedly left the hospital oblivious to the issues with her liver.
The ultrasound report author had urged for a CT scan to investigate the mass further, but that was never done.
Instead, the cancer was left to spread.
Mrs Netting’s lawyers at Bradley Allen Love allege the cancer was curable on her first visit to Calvary.
More than a year later, Mrs Netting returned to the hospital, again complaining of pain.
An ultrasound and CT scan were conducted, and the mass was found to have grown significantly.
She was told it was incurable, and given just months to live.
In its defence, filed before the settlement was reached, Calvary admitted it breached its duty of care.
But, at that stage, it signalled it may contest the causal link between their error and the development of the fatal liver cancer.
The settlement has resolved the principal matters in the case.
It will return before the courts in February for a further directions hearing.