Helping to improve clinical risk, reduce litigation risk and improve healthcare standards.

Tumour growth is conventionally understood to follow exponential kinetics in many medico-legal courts and summaries. According to this model, the time required for one cell to divide into two is equivalent to that required for two to form four, four to form eight, and so forth. As such, people from claimants to plaintiffs, physicians to patients, and scientists to laymen alike mistakenly assume that, upon determining the doubling time of a hepatic tumour, to give a typical example, the tumour would have likely been present “years ago” in the liver, and the cancer was thus “incurable” years ago. Alas, some say, there was no point in screening, testing, and diagnosing the primary tumour earlier, as it was fatal all along, owing to its metastatic spread. In other words, the patient’s tumour was metastatic well in advance of diagnosis and, hence, there would not have been any prospect of cure with earlier detection.

Strep A (group A streptococcus) is a highly contagious bacteria that can cause different infections ranging from minor illness to death in a very small number of cases. Often people can carry the bacteria without developing any illness. Strep A can be prevented though good hygiene but there is no preventative vaccine. The bacteria are often found in the throat and the skin hence it may be caught through close contact and via respiratory droplets.

Patients who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee experience excessive wearing of the meniscus and articular cartilage. This is measured in grades from I-IV, from soft cartilage to cartilage worn down to the bone. This cartilage provides shock absorption and allows the bones to slide over each other. This damage can limit the ability of the knee to function properly.

Intestinal obstruction occurs when food and stool are not able to move freely along the gut. There are many possible reasons for intestinal obstruction including hernias, tumours, abdominal adhesions, volvulus (intestine twists around itself) and foreign objects. Intestinal obstruction is a common problem with a high mortality rate unless treated promptly. Delays and improper management can cause infection, intestinal tear (perforation), pain, and death from the infection. An accurate history and examination are essential to lead to the correct investigation and management. That means doing the complete job and not moving forward until this is adequately done.

Fibroids are benign tumours or growths of the uterus (myomas or leiomyomas) which are very common in women of reproductive age and tend to reduce in size after the menopause. They usually do not require treatment unless they cause symptoms. Symptoms of fibroids include prolonged heavy periods, abdominal distention, lower abdominal discomfort, or pain. Fibroids may cause pressure on other structures leading to such symptoms as urinary frequency and constipation.

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants and grows outside the main cavity of the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. Unfortunately, the pregnancy cannot be saved and can cause significant health risks to the mother. Where not detected promptly, this can lead to severe harm, such as loss of a fallopian tube, resulting in potential reduced future fertility.