‘You Have Cancer’: Shocking Diagnosis Turns Out to Be a Hospital Error
A 54-year-old woman from the Mühlviertel region received a devastating breast cancer diagnosis at a hospital in Linz, only to later discover that the result belonged to another patient.
The incident reportedly occurred at Kepler Universitätsklinikum (Kepler University Hospital). According to reports, the woman had discovered a lump in her breast and was referred to the hospital’s Brustzentrum (Breast Center) for further examination in early February.
During a consultation, a doctor informed her that several tumors had been found and that immediate treatment would be necessary. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when the woman noticed that her first name was spelled differently in the medical report. Her year of birth was also incorrect.
It was then revealed that the doctor had apparently opened the medical file of another patient with a similar name. The diagnosis she received actually belonged to someone else. The discovery reportedly left the woman in severe emotional shock, and she and her husband are now considering legal action.
The hospital stated that it deeply regrets the incident and is treating the matter seriously. Officials said psychological support will be offered if needed and medical staff remain available to speak with the affected patient.
The case has drawn attention because another medical error earlier this year in Linz caused public outrage. In that incident, a woman had her Uterus (uterus) removed after an incorrect cancer diagnosis, prompting an investigation by prosecutors.