Two families have initiated legal proceedings against medical practitioners, alleging that diagnostic failures contributed to patients’ deaths from cancer that went undetected for extended periods.
The cases highlight concerns about specialised medical examinations conducted in Cyprus, with both families claiming delayed diagnoses prevented timely treatment that could have altered outcomes.
In the first case, relatives of a 63-year-old woman who died from metastatic pancreatic cancer have filed suit against a diagnostic centre and radiologist. The woman underwent magnetic resonance imaging of her abdomen and pelvis on 18 November 2021, following treatment for early-stage endometrial cancer.
“The initial examination had findings that revealed the deceased had pancreatic cancer, but the alleged negligence of the medical centre’s doctor and failure of proper diagnosis through imaging examinations led to the patient’s death,” the family’s legal filing states.
The radiologist’s report described the scan results as “unremarkable” with insignificant findings. However, when the patient underwent another examination at the same centre on 2 July 2023 due to health complications, tests revealed pancreatic cancer with peritoneal metastasis. The woman died on 24 September 2024.
Retrospective analysis challenges original findings
The family’s legal challenge centres on a medical certificate dated 1 March 2024, which they claim demonstrates the presence of pancreatic abnormalities in the original 2021 scan. The certificate states: “With progressively reduced dimensions, the known processing in the pancreatic tail is depicted, which in the last examination measured a maximum diameter of approximately 3.7 cm compared to approximately 4.9 cm in the examination on 2/7/2023, also distinguished in the MRI on 18/11/2021.”
The family alleges the radiologist “neglected or failed to locate or record” the pancreatic lesion in the original medical certificate issued in 2021.
Second case involves delayed cervical cancer diagnosis
A separate case, previously reported by Phileleftheros in February 2025, involves a 37-year-old woman who died from cervical cancer allegedly not diagnosed promptly. The woman visited a prominent Cypriot gynaecologist for one year, during which time she reported symptoms but was told she had cervicitis.
Two months after her final examination with the first doctor, the woman sought a second opinion. The consulting gynaecologist immediately referred her for specialised tests that revealed stage three cancer. Despite treatment, the woman died in January 2025.
The case has been submitted to the Cyprus Medical Association, with the family’s legal representative stating: “If the above is proven, we consider that there was serious medical negligence, which led to delayed medical diagnosis and ultimately to the loss of the patient’s life.”
Medical association reviewing complaints
The Cyprus Medical Association has received formal complaints regarding both cases. The second case included medical certificates, documentation, and communication records between the gynaecologist and patient.
The complaint letter stated the family believes “the acts and omissions of the gynaecologist may constitute criminal medical negligence and violation of the patient’s right to timely and proper medical care.”
Both cases remain under legal review, with families seeking damages for alleged medical negligence that they claim resulted in delayed diagnoses and preventable deaths.
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