Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

Lothian NHS Board - University Hospitals Division

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201101161 Sector Health Category Communication, staff attitude, dignity, confidentiality Decided 01 January 2012

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Complaint record keeping failures Patient dignity and privacy

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Summary

Mrs C complained that doctors were insensitive in the way that they told her husband (Mr C) that he had terminal cancer.

We acknowledged that it must have been extremely distressing for Mr C to receive the news that he had terminal cancer, particularly as this was the only hospital appointment that he attended alone. However, our medical adviser said that it was appropriate to be frank and open in such circumstances. We found no objective evidence that doctors were insensitive in the way that they communicated Mr C's prognosis to him.

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Reference	Date	Summary	Outcome
201702665	01 Sep 2018	Ms C attended an antenatal screening which tested for Down's syndrome before the birth of her child (Child A) and …	Partly Upheld
201204890	01 Apr 2014	Miss C complained about the care and treatment she received when she was admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh …	Partly Upheld
201202108	01 Aug 2013	Miss C complained about aspects of the care she received during the birth of her son. She was unhappy with …	Partly Upheld
201201251	01 Jul 2013	Mr C complained on behalf of his late wife (Mrs C) who developed severe abdominal (stomach) pain in November 2011. …	Partly Upheld
201105188	01 Sep 2012	Mr C attends hospital regularly for treatment. On one of those occasions a member of staff handed him an envelope …	Not Upheld

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Lothian NHS Board - University Hospitals Division

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