LONDON (Reuters) - A British man who went on a wild spending spree after doctors said he only had a short time to live wants compensation because the diagnosis was wrong and he is now healthy -- but broke.
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John Brandrick, 62, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago and told that he would probably die within a year.
He quit his job, sold or gave away nearly all his possessions, stopped paying his mortgage and spent his savings dining out and going on holiday.
Brandrick was left with little more than the black suit, white shirt and red tie that he had planned to be buried in when it emerged a year later that his suspected "tumor" was no more than a non-life threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
"When they tell you you've got a limited time and everything, you do enjoy life," Brandrick, from Cornwall in the west of England, told Sky television.
"I'm really pleased that I've got a second chance in life... but if you haven't got no money after all this, which is my fault -- I spent it all -- they should pay something back."
If he can't get compensation, he is considering selling his house or suing the hospital that diagnosed him. The hospital has said that while it sympathizes with Brandrick, a review of his case showed no different diagnosis would have been made.
2007-05-08 08:36:07 · 9 answers · asked by diva 6 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Should he be compensated for wrong diagnosis?
2007-05-08 08:36:37 · update #1
no one should be compensated for being stupid and thats what he is. only a very selfish and stupid person would do this and we should not be the ones to pay for his stupidity
2007-05-08 08:40:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think he should be but from a legal perspective it would be a tough case to win, given I've seen med malpractice cases defensed even though there was gross negligence and the patient died as a result of it (e.g., left a stent inside during surgery; pierced the abdominal lining during elective acid reflux surgery, patient died of septic disease, etc. etc.). Med malpractice is difficult to win. I don't know about the U.K., but they are in the U.S., and have a cap of $400,000 or so on them even if you do win.
2007-05-08 08:49:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He should have gotten a second opinion and maybe a third. Doctors are human, too. They play God, but they aren't.
2007-05-08 08:41:28 · answer #3 · answered by The Nana of Nana's 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think he is rightfully sueing he should ubtain all his money
that doctor should be sued for all he is worth and more its kinda mean but that is one of the risks he took in becoming a doctor
2007-05-08 08:40:02 · answer #4 · answered by Springsteen 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No. I think the man should be thankful that he's not dying with cancer.
2007-05-08 08:41:49 · answer #5 · answered by lucy02 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i do not know but it sounds like he Had fun now he has to pay the pip per
2007-05-08 08:41:24 · answer #6 · answered by xX-l-Armand-l-Xx 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He should have gotten a second opinion immediately. I wouldn't give him two cents
2007-05-08 08:39:12 · answer #7 · answered by Icewomanblockstheshot 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well, we did a lot of tests, and there's no experation date stamped on the bottom of your foot that says you're going to die in two months.
2007-05-08 08:40:33 · answer #8 · answered by Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
..is this a joke?...
2007-05-08 08:40:47 · answer #9 · answered by chillie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋