Personal injury solicitor urges patients to come forward after chemotherapy scare
A Midlands solicitor has urged victims of a cancer specialist under investigation for prescribing unnecessary chemotherapy treatment to seek legal help.
More than 20 patients are suing University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust after claiming they were given unnecessary treatment by oncologist Professor Ian Brown.
David Lydon, a legal director at Midlands law firm mfg Solicitors, which has offices in Worcester, Birmingham, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, the Black Country, Ludlow and Telford, now wants to speak to other potential victims.
It has been widely reported that a number of patients were prescribed temozolomide for more than a decade by the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, despite NHS guidelines stating it should only be used for six months. Patients claim the overprescribing left them with terrible side-effects including secondary cancers and crippling fatigue.
Since the legal case was revealed, dozens more cancer patients have come forward to raise similar concerns. An internal patient safety review has now been launched and Professor Brown, who reportedly retired in 2023, is being investigated by the General Medical Council.
Mr Lydon said: “A number of serious concerns have been raised in relation to potentially unnecessary chemotherapy treatment being prescribed at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. I believe the cases which are known are simply the tip of the iceberg and therefore I am urging patients and former patients to come forward.
“We are committed to securing justice and holding those responsible for any medical negligence. We have a dedicated team of experts who are able to assist and guide them through this difficult and worrying period.”
The University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust said a review regarding the situation has been commissioned.
A spokesperson for the hospital trust said: “The trust is committed to providing the safest possible care. We have comprehensively reviewed and spoken to all individuals who were receiving temozolomide (TMZ) treatment at the end of 2023 to ensure appropriate support and care plans are in place.
“High grade brain tumours are associated with a poor outlook, with fewer than two per cent of patients with grade 4 glioblastomas surviving longer than 10 years. A high grade brain tumour is an extremely complex condition and all modes of treatment – surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – carry the risk of complications and side effects.
“National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recognise that clinicians can exercise professional judgement appropriate to individual circumstances when offering treatment to patients.
“We have commissioned the Royal College of Physicians to conduct an independent review of a representative cohort of patients who received greater than 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ between 2017 and 2023.
“As this process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
A spokesperson for the General Medical Council said: "Dr Ian Brown is under investigation, and while this process is ongoing he has restrictions on his practice."
It's understood the restrictions prevent the oncology doctor from prescribing, administering or having primary responsibility for any chemotherapy drugs while the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who may have been affected can contact David Lydon at mfg Solicitors via email at david.lydon@mfgsolicitors.com or call 0121 236 7388.
