I am a patient who has experienced the devastating impact of not being fully informed about my medical test results. On more than one occasion, I was not told about significant findings on my MRI scans, which later turned out to be graves disease and thyroid cancer. This lack of transparency has led to numerous surgeries and a drastic decline in my health, causing distress for me and my family.

The first time I became aware I had not been informed about a growth on my thyroid was in 2020 when a previous MRI scan from 2013 was reviewed, which showed it was already growing back then but not reported. If it had been reported I would still have my thyroid, it would not have caused Graves disease or had any cancer present when they finally had to remove it in 2020. I truly believe if it had been reported and dealt with in 2013 majority of the ill health i have suffered would not of happened. 

This is not just about me; it's about every patient's right to know. No matter how small an abnormality is, patients have the right to be informed. It should be a legal requirement for healthcare providers to disclose all findings from medical tests such as MRIs, CT scans, X-rays etc.

In England, there are more than 237 million medication and diagnostic errors each year, which cost the NHS over £98 million and cause more than 1,700 deaths. Most errors occur during administration (54%), prescribing (21%), and dispensing (16%). 

 Preventable deaths

A study found that 5.2% of deaths in English acute hospitals were preventable, with the main causes being poor clinical monitoring, diagnostic errors, and inadequate drug or fluid management. 

Patient safety ranking

According to Imperial College London, the UK could have had 17,356 fewer deaths annually if it had performed at the level of the top decile of OECD countries. 

 Medication dispensing errors

In UK pharmacies, the rate of dispensing errors is estimated to be around 1-3%. 

 Drug administration errors

In hospitals, drug administration errors vary, but studies have reported rates ranging from 3-8%. 

It is also legal for Dr's to administer medication that has already been documented by a consultant at a hospital that a patient has already not tolerated it and made them violently sick and ended up in hospital. 

It's time we change this practice that puts patients' lives at risk. We need legislation that mandates full disclosure of all medical test results - no exceptions - ensuring that every individual can make informed decisions regarding their health care.

Please join us in demanding transparency and respect for patients' rights by signing this petition today!