dr's office sends "diagnosis - aggressive lung cancer" rather than "Merry Christmas" to 8k patients

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

Askern Medical Practice in Doncaster sent the automated text on Friday, two days before Christmas, warning of “diagnosis — Aggressive lung cancer with metastases,” the BBC said.

It asked patients to fill out a form that allows people with terminal illnesses to claim benefits, leaving many who got it in tears.

But within the hour, the surgery sent a follow-up offering “sincere apologies for the previous text message sent.”

“Our message to you should have read, ‘We wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year,'” it read, according to a screenshot.

https://nypost.com/2022/12/29/8k-patients-receive-message-that-they-are-dying-of-cancer-instead-of-holiday-greeting/

At least one of those who got it, Chris Reed, 57, was waiting for results after tests for lung cancer — with the text seemingly confirming his worst fears, leaving his partner crying, he told the Telegraph.

“They went from ‘You’ve got lung cancer’ to ‘Merry Christmas’ in about an hour. Unbelievable,” said Reed, who could not get through to the doctor’s office because so many other horrified patients were calling.

[LAS14]

1. Am I a bad person because this made me laugh out loud???? NT

[Igel]

3. No hurt, no foul.

At the same time I wonder who actually typed the text and sent it.

[MerryBlooms]

4. What is funny about this? Have you or anyone close to you,

Received a terminal cancer diagnosis? My husband did in late 2001, and he was dead in 5 months. I find absolutely Nothing humorous in this situation. People would have been crying, getting their affairs in order, talking with their kids, calling the doctor's office... And then, Just joking! My bad, lol! Yeah, I truly hope you're the only one here laughing out loud.

[EX500rider]

11. No, made me laugh

[MissB]

12. Yes

But we can both end up in hell together



That being said, I do feel bad for the folks that got the message in error. Pretty horrifying but glad it was a mistake

[Wingus Dingus]

18. I laughed. It's just too fucked up not to laugh.

[NBachers]

2. "Boy was our face red! We sent out 'You're gonna die' messages instead of Merry Christmas!"

Sorry 'bout that

[MerryBlooms]

6. Horrific for those patients. I would have given anything,

For my husband's diagnosis to be a mistake, which I argued with the doctor, It must be! The terror that runs through you when you hear those words, numbs your body. I feel so bad for those folks.

[MerryBlooms]

5. Awful. 🥺

[Renew Deal]

7. Oops

[Initech]

8. Wanna get away?

[Skittles]

9. I realize it was just a mistake...but....

seriously, WTF

[MerryBlooms]

15. And, what about the folks who received the error message in error,

And have to be told they are terminal. What a mess! Cancer is a horrible roller-coaster to be on in the first place, add to that, what doctor office would think it's a good idea to notify you by email or text, you're terminal? This situation is just so wrong and weird.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

16. I know. weird that they would even have that text available. Any cancer diagnosis should be

be given in person or by phone.

[MerryBlooms]

17. When my husband was diagnosed, we were asked to come back to

OHSU 4 hrs after his exam. Ocular melanoma. He was in surgery having his left eye removed less than 48hrs later. But, all the bad news was delivered in person. I can't imagine how much worse it would have been without knowing, your doctor didn't care enough to contact personally.

[Iggo]

10. This is...separately...horrifying and hilarious.

Horrifying wins, though, cause there ain’t nothin’ funny about how scared those people must have been.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Which Begs The Question...

They would send out a metastatic lung cancer diagnosis by text?
That doesn't seem like an appropriate way to deliver devastating news to a patient.

[MerryBlooms]

14. My husband and I received personal calls from his doctors

Or staff, and it was always, Can you come to the office tomorrow, or a day or two later. We never received bad news over the phone, it was always in person. I knew things were bad, because no doctor ever called us personally, or wanted to see us in 24hrs. My husband couldn't catch a break. I'm so relieved this doctor office made such a horrible error. It's the kind of error you beg for in the middle of the night.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. Oh, shit! I know exactly what that feels like.

.

I was interviewing for a job and had to go to their physician in NYC to get a physical.

I was called on Tuesday before Thanksgiving to be told that the x-ray of my check revealed cancerous tumors and to see a pulmonary specialist right away. Try booking a doctor within weeks around the holiday season. My daughter's first birthday was less than a month away. I was crying at the thought, since my dad died of asbestos driven mesothelioma and that was a horrible way to pass.

In any event, I got one three weeks later, a top doctor in Central NJ with a state-of-the-art x-ray machine. He critiqued the x-ray machine that other doctor used, since the thing looked like it was made in the 60s. Anyway, no spots or anything. I called up that other doctor and HR to complain about the defective equipment that was used. The new x-ray was a light blue showing all detail, the one the other doctor used was half black and very low contrast.

Needless to say, that fucked up Thanksgiving and I was a wreck for a few weeks, as I kept looking at my daughter thinking I would be dead in months.

.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

20. that is awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!