Unprecedented! A police officer in Thessaloniki informed of terminal cancer diagnosis a year late

A shocking story has come to light involving a police officer from Thessaloniki who was informed of a terminal cancer diagnosis a year after undergoing surgery for appendicitis at a military hospital. The 55-year-old officer claims his life unraveled due to this delay, as the cancer had already metastasized to other organs, making it inoperable.

In December 2022, the officer experienced severe abdominal pain and was admitted to a military hospital in northern Greece, where he underwent surgery to remove his appendix. The procedure was uneventful, and he returned home shortly thereafter. However, a year later, in December 2023, he received an unexpected call from the hospital’s surgical director, requesting a meeting to discuss a serious matter.

At this meeting, he was informed that the biopsy sample from his appendectomy had revealed adenocarcinoma (a malignant cancer), but the results had not been communicated promptly. The doctor explained that delays in processing biopsy results were common, but acknowledged that this particular case had been delayed even further because it was considered “less urgent.

During the year-long delay, the cancer had metastasized to other organs, rendering it incurable. According to the officer’s lawyer, Artemis Dialyna, the negligence of hospital staff led to a preventable escalation of the disease. The officer, now facing a terminal prognosis, cannot care for his wife, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and requires constant support.

The officer has filed a lawsuit, accusing the hospital of gross negligence and detailing the devastating impact of the delay. His legal complaint emphasizes how this oversight deprived him of timely treatment options, such as preventative surgery or chemotherapy, which could have saved his life.

The officer sought care from private doctors and diagnostic centers, confirming the cancer’s advanced stage. Subsequent surgeries were unable to remove all tumors, and medical records from these procedures described his condition as “beyond surgical intervention.”

In his lawsuit, the officer stated:
“For a whole year, I lived with cancer inside me without anyone informing me or taking any preventive action to save my life. By the time I sought private medical assistance, the disease had progressed irreversibly.”

This case highlights significant issues in the Greek healthcare system, including procedural delays and insufficient communication with patients. The tragedy has sparked public outcry, with many questioning how such negligence could occur in a critical medical setting.

The lawsuit serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of systemic failures in medical institutions, emphasizing the need for accountability and reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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