Doctors have been forced to apologise after a woman visited the emergency room three times for rectal bleeding. Photo / FileDoctors have been forced to apologise after a woman visited the emergency room three times for rectal bleeding. Photo / FileThe Southern District Health Board has apologised after doctors failed to diagnose a woman had cancer, despite her coming to hospital with bleeding three times in two and a half months. Eleven days later the surgeon found a "significant mass" on the rectal wall, and rectal cancer was later diagnosed. "What was more important was that the normal digital rectal examinations did not exclude rectal cancer, and further investigation was warranted."

Source: Otago Daily Times June 14, 2022 10:15 UTC