THE consultant who misdiagnosed a child as having cancer is suffering
from multiple sclerosis, it was revealed yesterday.
Dr Carol Starkie has been on sick leave from Selly Oak Hospital since
May 25, South Birmingham Health Authority said.
The disclosure came as the parents of Matthew Guest, the boy who
underwent unnecessary chemotherapy, called for a full inquiry.
The authority said: ''Dr Starkie has agreed that it should be made
known publically at this juncture that she is suffering progressive
neurological disease -- multiple sclerosis.
''Many people with this disease are able to continue to work for a
very long time and there is no evidence to suggest that her condition
and the error are necessarily linked.''
Dr Starkie is seeking early retirement.
Solicitors for the couple, identified only as Mr and Mrs Guest, issued
a statement saying their main concern was their son's health.
''However, they are also concerned that others do not suffer as their
family has done. They hope that the inquiry to be carried out by South
Birmingham Health Authority will be a full inquiry and will ensure that
errors such as they have experienced will not occur again.
''They also believe that . . . it should be dealt with speedily and
its finding made public so that the confidence of the public in its
health care will be restored.''
No further details of the family were released in an attempt to
protect their privacy.
The boy was wrongly diagnosed as having a bone tumour. The authority
said: ''Because the type of malignancy in question can potentially be
very serious and very rapid in its development, chemotherapy was started
immediately.''
Doctors have apologised to the family.
A top-level inquiry, to be led by the chairman of a health authority
outside the West Midlands region, is to be set up.
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