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Medical practice accidentally texted patients false diagnosis of "aggressive lung cancer" instead of holiday message [1]
['David Pescovitz']
Date: 2022-12-30
Doncaster, England's Askern Medical Practice meant to send a mass text to thousands of its registered patients wishing them happy holidays. Unfortunately, this the text that they actually received: "Diagnosis – Aggressive lung cancer with metastases. Thanks."
Ummm… ooops?
From BBC News:
[The text] directed patients to fill out a DS1500 form, which allows people with terminal diseases to claim certain benefits.
However, about an hour later people received a second text telling them it was an error and it was meant to wish them a merry Christmas instead.
[Patient Sarah] Hargreaves said after she received the original text while she was out shopping, she "felt sick to my teeth and broke down".
She added: "I had just had a mole removed and was awaiting a result from a biopsy and I had been to hospital as my smear test came back abnormal, so yes, I was very worried."
Despite repeated calls to the surgery, she said she struggled to get through to speak to someone.
[END]
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[1] Url:
https://boingboing.net/2022/12/30/medical-practice-accidentally-texted-patients-they-have-aggressive-lung-cancer-instead-of-holiday-message.html
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