GP not punished for cancer misdiagnosis

A general practitioner who failed to diagnose a woman's bowel cancer for four years, despite multiple consultations, has escaped penalty for not providing reasonable care to her patient.

The woman was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in 2012 after four years of bowel problems, which were first brought to her GP's attention in May 2008.

At that consultation, the unnamed GP diagnosed the woman with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) noting her young age - 49 at the time - and no history of bowel cancer.

Over the next four years, the woman visited the GP on several occasions, raising her bowel problems at least three times, alongside other ailments.

In August 2012, the woman requested to see another GP at the practice and was referred on to a specialist and diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer.

This article is courtesy of 3News.