A New Zealand doctor made the deathly mistake of forgetting to tell a patient she had breast cancer.
The yet-to-be-identified doctor was ordered to apologize to the family of the woman who died from the cancer without knowing she had it.
A report was released by New Zealand Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill ordering the doctor to review his practices so he doesn't miss diagnosing another patient.
According to the report, the doctor "either overlooked or completely forgot about the radiologist's comment in relation to a suspicious lesion."
The patient, who had a history of breast cancer, went to the doctor six years after her treatment to complain about a pain in her left shoulder. The doctor was aware of her history, according to The Guardian, referred her to an x-ray.
The radiologist told the doctor he saw a spread of cancerous lesions, but that message did not get to the patient, reports The Guardian. Instead, he only informed the patient of the tendon tear and prescribed her steroids to help her heal.
The woman switched doctors in 2010 and was diagnosed upon the switch, as International Business Times reports. She underwent treatment but eventually died.
The Director of Proceedings is still determining whether the doctor will face legal action, IBT reports.
