Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

A Medical Practice in the Fife NHS Board area

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201500437 Sector Health Category clinical treatment / diagnosis Decided 01 October 2015

Full decision

Summary

Miss C complained to the medical practice because she said the doctor had inappropriately told her mother (Mrs A) at a consultation that she had been diagnosed with dementia. Miss C said the doctor repeated the diagnosis of dementia to both herself and her father in further phone calls. However, it was confirmed that Mrs A did not have dementia. The doctor denied telling Mrs A and her family that she had been diagnosed with dementia. Instead, the doctor said she advised that there was a possible diagnosis.

Having reviewed the related medical information, the evidence available suggested dementia was being explored as a possible diagnosis and at no point was it confirmed as having been diagnosed. We did not see any evidence to suggest that the doctor, or any of the other clinicians involved in Mrs A's case, had confirmed a diagnosis of dementia. Therefore, we did not uphold the complaint.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201500437 as a PDF (10.99 KB) Updated: March 13, 2018

View original on SPSO (Scottish Publ… website

Other decisions involving A Medical Practice in the Fife NHS Boar…

Reference Date Summary Outcome
202302639 01 Mar 2025 C suffered with lower back and right hip pain. C complained about the care and treatment provided by the practice … Partly Upheld
202105712 01 Aug 2023 C complained about the care and treatment provided to their relative (A) by the practice. A attended the practice frequently … Upheld
202102608 01 Mar 2023 C complained about the end of life care their late spouse (A) had received from the practice. A had Lewy … Upheld
202111152 01 Nov 2022 C complained on behalf of their parent (A) for whom they hold power of attorney. C complained that the practice … Not Upheld
202101690 01 Aug 2022 C complained about the care and treatment provided to their late child (A) by their GP practice. A had attended … Not Upheld
View all decisions for this organisation