Teenager in radiation overdose blunder

A teenager has received an overdose of radiation while undergoing treatment for a brain tumour at Scotland's largest cancer treatment centre.

Lisa Norris, 15, had received 17 doses of radiation therapy at the Beatson Oncology Centre, when her parents were contacted by consultants from the centre. They were told that their daughter had received an overdose of radiation and that an initial inquiry suggested the error was due to human error.

Lisa has severely blistered skin on her head and ears, and has been resorting to cool showers in attempts to keep her body temperature down.

Due to the rarity of such incidents doctors have been unable to tell the teenager what the future holds in store.

The amount of the overdose has not been quantified, but it is understood that the error is an isolated incident.

Staff concerned with this isolated incident were said to be “extremely distraught”.

Professor Alan Rodger, Medical Director, Beatson Oncology Centre, said: “Initial meetings have taken place with the girl and her family. We will do everything in our power to support both them and their daughter in the challenges ahead.”

The Scottish Executive Health Department has been notified and an investigation has been launched.

In a statement Greater Glasgow Health Board said: "An investigation is currently underway at the Beatson Oncology Centre, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, into an overdose of radiation to a young female patient.

"It has been established that no equipment failure was involved. Initial findings indicate that the overdose was the result of human error and no other patient treatments were compromised.

"Immediately upon discovering that the patient – a 15-year-old girl – had been given the radiation overdose an internal investigation was launched and the Scottish Executive Health Department notified.

"The Scottish Executive Health Department will now conduct their own full inquiry with the full support and co-operation of NHS Greater Glasgow staff."

Due to patient confidentiality, and due to the ongoing external and internal investigation, NHS Greater Glasgow declined to make any further comment.

The Beatson Oncology Centre, the second largest centre of its type in the UK, sees around 8,000 new patients each year and provides 15,000 courses of chemotherapy and 6,500 radiotherapy courses.

(SP/KMcA)