Doctors misdiagnosed a UK man’s brain tumor as appendicitis, and he died as a result

In a terrible occurrence, physicians in the UK misdiagnosed a young guy (age 25) and said he had appendicitis, which led to his death from a brain tumor. In June 2023, Josh Warner, a self-employed carpenter, sought treatment at Darent Valley Hospital after two weeks of excruciating headaches and nausea. In spite of the fact that he had no stomach discomfort when he arrived at the hospital, physicians originally prescribed a CT scan and diagnosed him with appendicitis, according to the New York Post. Warner was taken into surgery to have his appendix removed after the doctors performed a CT scan.

Warner’s health suddenly worsened shortly after surgery to remove his purportedly diseased appendix. Warner was readmitted to the hospital for another CT scan despite feeling continually ill. According to the Money Control article, the scan this time detected a brain aberration, but physicians just ascribed it to a computer mistake, and Warner was once again released.

Warner attended the hospital several times in the meanwhile to find pertinent answers for his discomfort but kept being turned away. After he unexpectedly passed out in his grandparents’ bathroom a few days later, he was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital right away for another CT scan. His massive brain tumor, which had progressed from the right side of his brain to the back and brain stem, was confirmed by the findings, which matched those from Darent Valley Hospital.

NDTV reported that a biopsy was performed on September 5. According to The Brain Tumour Charity, Warner was diagnosed with midline glioma, a very aggressive brain cancer with an average life expectancy of less than one year. Interestingly, physicians only expected him to live for three months, but he passed away on September 17, only 12 days after his diagnosis, at the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, according to sources.

Warner’s family is now sharing his story in an effort to raise awareness of this fatal illness. Earlier, a fundraising website had been set up to aid with his financial assistance throughout treatment; the money from that page would now go into a fund for his kid, according to the NDTV article. His family is also pursuing legal action against the hospital that misdiagnosed his condition and caused his death. However, a representative for Darent Valley Hospital and Gravesham NHS Trust said that the situation was being looked into.