Aoife attended her GP in early 2022 with concerning symptoms. Her doctor arranged a scan at a private clinic and asked her to come back for the results a week later. When she returned, she was told everything looked fine—no cause for alarm. Aoife felt relieved and got on with her life. Six months passed before new symptoms emerged, more serious this time. She saw a different doctor, who ordered another scan immediately. This time, the diagnosis was stark: cancer was present and had already progressed because it hadn't been caught earlier.
When Aoife's solicitor reviewed her original scan images alongside the new ones, the findings were clear. The radiologist who'd read the first scan had missed a significant abnormality that should have been flagged. The delay meant Aoife needed more intensive treatment than she would have if the cancer had been caught at that earlier stage. Beyond the physical and emotional toll, she faced years of follow-up care and monitoring, with ongoing medical costs that would strain her family's finances.
Aoife decided to pursue a medical negligence claim. She instructed a solicitor who specialises in these cases and gathered her medical records, scan reports, and expert opinions from other radiologists confirming the initial miss. The clinic's insurer eventually acknowledged the error. Rather than face a lengthy court battle, they agreed to settle. The settlement covered Aoife's past medical expenses, her pain and suffering, and—critically—a fund to cover her future care costs for the years ahead.