James Stanley Elwood (c. December 1921 – 13 December 2021) was a British pathologist who was responsible for 222 cancer misdiagnoses between 1995 and 2000.[1][2][3] During the period concerned he was practising as a locum at four NHS trusts: the Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon, the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, the Mid-Sussex NHS Trust and the Frimley Park Hospitals NHS Trust. He also worked in Tralee.[4]
Among the patients who received faulty diagnoses was archaeologist Carenza Lewis, who later spoke publicly about the consequences of the resulting unnecessary surgery.[5] Elwood was not subject to any disciplinary procedures, having removed his name from the British medical register. He initially refused to co-operate with the investigation of his misdiagnoses by not divulging the details of his medical career.[6]
Elwood graduated with bachelor's degrees in medicine, surgery and obstetrics (MB BCh BAO) with second class honours from the Queen's University of Belfast in 1943.[6] He proceeded to a doctorate (MD) in 1947 with a thesis titled "A study of the incidence and aetiology of pulmonary complications following anaesthesia and surgical operations."[7] He obtained a diploma in clinical pathology (DCP) from the University of London in 1947, a diploma in pathology (DPath) from the Conjoint Board for England in 1952, and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) in 1966. The Medical Directory for 2007 lists him as having previously been a civilian consultant pathologist at the Cambridge Military Hospital at Aldershot. [8] [9]
Elwood died in Gloucestershire on 13 December 2021.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ Fleet, Michael (16 June 2000). "Doctor defied inquiry after 200 blunders". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 May 2007.[dead link]
- ^ "Pathologist warnings 'went unheeded'". BBC News. 13 June 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
- ^ "James Elwood: Chronology". BBC News. 13 June 2000. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ pomorain@irish-times.ie (14 June 2000). "Tighter rules for doctors are likely after error in cancer case". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "My nightmare all a 'mistake'". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ a b O'Neill, Sean (16 June 2000). "Elwood stays silent over mystery career". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ "Queen's University of Belfast Library Catalogue". Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ The Medical Directory 2006/07 (162nd ed.). London: Informa Healthcare. 2006. ISBN 1-84311-542-5.
- ^ The Medical Register 1992. London: The General Medical Council. 1992.
- ^ "ELWOOD, JAMES STANLEY, b. 1921, GRO Reference: DOR Q4/2021 in GLOUCESTERSHIRE (488-1C), Entry Number 523203363". GRO Index. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "Elwood, James Stanley". Probate Search. Retrieved 7 September 2022.