No ban for doctor who gave patient too much radiation

A RADIOGRAPHER involved in a blunder that led to a cancer patient being given the wrong radiation treatment has been allowed to continue practising.

Alison Russell was a senior radiographer at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre when a woman was given four doses of radiotherapy instead of three - because she had the same surname as a second person due in that day.

Staff at the clinic, which was previously criticised over the death of teenage overdose victim Lisa Norris, never checked the identity and date of birth of the woman properly before administering the treatment.

Despite suffering from lung cancer, she was treated for gullet cancer and the mistake was only realised when the second woman showed up later that day to be told her treatment had already been given.

Mrs Russell, who has 36 years' experience in radiotherapy, was demoted following the mix up on June 23, 2008, and later resigned, saying she found it difficult to continue working at a lower level.

It was only following her departure that bosses reported her to Health Professional Council (HPC) - the watchdog for radiographers in the UK.

But this week, at a hearing of the HPC's conduct and competence committee, she was cleared of misconduct and incompetence despite admitting that mistakes had been made.

A colleague who was working with Mrs Russell at the time, Gail Vasey, was given a final written warning by bosses at the Beatson but never reported to the HPC.

The committee determined that misconduct had taken place but said that it was not clear Mrs Russell had been at fault and added that there was no evidence of incompetence on her part.

They said the charges were not proven to be directly and solely attributable to Mrs Russell and the case did not impair her ability to practise radiotherapy.

Panel chair Ian Griffiths said: "Mrs Russell's conduct on 23 June 2008 fell short of the standards expected of a registered radiographer."

But he added: "There is no evidence that the knowledge and skills were deficient in any respect; the evidence does not demonstrate lack of competence on Mrs Russell's part.

"This was an isolated incident and there is very little likelihood of repetition."

Mrs Russell declined to comment following the hearing in Edinburgh.

But the HPC's decision sparked anger from a patients' group who last night insisted both Mrs Russell and Ms Vasey should have faced sanctions. Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scottish Patients Association, said that the HPC's decision was a "cop-out". She said: "It is a huge, huge mistake and this decision is a cop-out.

"Both the radiographers should have been responsible, they should both have known that this was not the appropriate treatment.

"The two of them should have been at the disciplinary hearing. To say it is not clear who was responsible is an excuse. We are not looking for excuses, we are looking for people to tighten up."

Brain tumour patient Lisa Norris was just 16 years old when she suffered agonising burns after treatment at the Beatson, and died in October 2006.

But the medic responsible for the blunder, Dr Stuart McNee, kept his job, to the dismay of Lisa's family, while the centre said it had implemented recommendations to safeguard patients in the future.

Last month, it was revealed that the clinic was failing to report dozens of radiation blunders every year.

Five serious radiation events at the Beatson were recorded in the last three years and reported to the Scottish Government.

But bosses failed to pass on a further 69 "clinically significant" mix-ups.

"Both the radiographers should have been responsible, they should both have known that this was not the appropriate treatment.

"The two of them should have been at the disciplinary hearing. To say it is not clear who was responsible is an excuse. We are not looking for excuses, we are looking for people to tighten up."

Brain tumour patient Lisa Norris was just 16 years old when she suffered agonising burns after treatment at the Beatson, and died in October 2006.

But the medic responsible for the blunder, Dr Stuart McNee, kept his job, to the dismay of Lisa's family, while the centre said it had implemented recommendations to safeguard patients in the future.

Last month, it was revealed that the clinic was failing to report dozens of radiation blunders every year.

Five serious radiation events at the Beatson were recorded in the last three years and reported to the Scottish Government.

But bosses failed to pass on a further 69 "clinically significant" mix-ups.