Man died after receiving ‘unnecessary’ contrast scan, despite kidney issues
An investigation into the death of a 91-year-old U.K. man found that the contrast dye he was given during a medical scan damaged his kidneys and likely kick-started events that eventually led to his death, the East London and West Essex Guardian reported Tuesday.
Stanley Babbs, a D-day veteran, died of multiple organ failure from sepsis in Feb. 2016. But it wasn’t until last week that coroner Nadia Persaud concluded King George Hospital physicians never took the proper steps to assess his contrast risk, which would have revealed known kidney issues prohibiting him from receiving the material.
A number of doctors said Babbs should not have received contrast with his exam, according to the Guardian. Two King George radiologists gave their signed approval for the scan, but have never been identified.
“To have two medical professionals involved in patient care, making decisions to expose a patient to a harmful substance, with no identification of either of them is extremely poor medical practice and evidence of dysfunction,” Persaud concluded.
The news outlet also noted that clinicians at the hospital described the radiology department the year Babbs received his exam as “the worst in the country.”
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages King George Hospital, has since made improvements to its radiology department, the local paper reported Tuesday.
Read more from the East London and West Essex Guardian below.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.