Payout for man wrongly told he had cancer
1/11/2005 London, England Rebecca Smith London Evening Standard (as reported in www.thislondon.co.uk) A man has received almost £200,000 after being wrongly told that he had throat cancer and had 12 months to live. Alan Brant was "devastated" when doctors told him he had to undergo surgery to remove most of his gullet. The mistaken diagnosis cost him his relationship and he almost lost his job. Complications left him dangerously ill and he has long-term side-effects as a result of the treatment. Tests carried out after the surgery revealed Mr Brant, 54, had never had cancer. He has been given £192,000 in compensation after doctors owned up to making a horrendous mistake. "I have gone through all this for nothing and for about six months I was suicidal," he said. "The effect on my life has been devastating." Complications during surgery meant Mr Brant's spleen had to be removed and he developed pneumonia and a dangerous abscess in his lung. After further treatment he cannot eat proper meals. He has to eat small snacks and cannot have food and drink together. He also has problems with stomach acid coming up into his mouth. Mr Brant, from Woking, said his relationship broke down under the stress and his job as a commercial kitchens designer suffered. His ordeal began when he experienced difficulties swallowing. His GP referred him to a consultant gastroenterologist at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, who said there was an obstruction and took a biopsy. Then doctors told Mr [...]