What do you mean I'm not going to die?

[homesick_american 1]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070507/od_nm/...cPU4cLcufWs0NUE

LONDON (Reuters) - A British man who went on a wild spending spree after doctors said he only had a short time to live wants compensation because the diagnosis was wrong and he is now healthy -- but broke.

John Brandrick, 62, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago and told that he would probably die within a year.

He quit his job, sold or gave away nearly all his possessions, stopped paying his mortgage and spent his savings dining out and going on holiday.

Brandrick was left with little more than the black suit, white shirt and red tie that he had planned to be buried in when it emerged a year later that his suspected "tumor" was no more than a non-life threatening inflammation of the pancreas.

"When they tell you you've got a limited time and everything, you do enjoy life," Brandrick, from Cornwall in the west of England, told Sky television.

"I'm really pleased that I've got a second chance in life... but if you haven't got no money after all this, which is my fault -- I spent it all -- they should pay something back."

If he can't get compensation, he is considering selling his house or suing the hospital that diagnosed him. The hospital has said that while it sympathizes with Brandrick, a review of his case showed no different diagnosis would have been made.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Guess he never heard of a second opinion...

[DeadPoolX 9]

Well... I'd be both really happy and really pissed off.

No one wants to die, but finding out you're healthy after spending all of your money and giving away everything you own? Wow. That would suck.

I feel that the hospital does owe him some compensation. Not something that would replace everything he's spent or given away (no one told him to do that; that was his decision), but something at least. After all, it'd be pretty traumatic to be told you have pancreatic cancer and only so long to live and then be told, "Oops! We made a mistake, sorry!"

Edited May 8, 2007 by DeadPoolX

[~Chad~ 0]

That won't ever happen to me because i know when i'm gonna die. My birth certificate has an expiration date on it.

[Nagishkaw 510]

That won't ever happen to me because i know when i'm gonna die. My birth certificate has an expiration date on it.

:lol:

[Emancipation 2]

Umm.. isn't stopping mortgage payments and being irresponsible with one's money his own fault? How can you blame someone else for you yourself being shortsighted and irrational in the face of bad news? Does this guy have any kids/dependants? I surely hope not.. I would HOPE that I would be overjoyed that my "demise" was not immanent and that I had the rest of my life to live. I'd kiss the Dr's not sue them.. Holy Flipping Norah!

[LovinLiberia 0]

LMAO...wow! That's one story. It's his fault for spending all of his money, but I think the only reason he deserves some compensation is because they misdiagnosed him and gave him the wrong information.

[broma25 2]

Guess he never heard of a second opinion...

Its hard enough to get 1 opinion in the UK....don't forget its NHS....

[homesick_american 1]

Guess he never heard of a second opinion...

Its hard enough to get 1 opinion in the UK....don't forget its NHS....

True dat. I once tried to get a second opinion on the NHS; there was only one consultant in my PCT who could deal with my condition, and he was the one who pissed me off. My doc tried to get the next PCT over to see me, but they essentially told her to go piss up a rope.

I could have gone private, but again the only private consultant urologist in the area was the very one who I saw on the NHS.

Second opinion? Hahaha...what's that?

[MissStacey 1]

In some ways you can't blame him. He wanted to spend what he thought were his last months doing what he wanted.

We've all heard the saying "You can't take it with you."

Does he have kids? They probably won't take him in after that- he spend their Inheritance!

[Jenn! 918]

Geez, I would have done the same thing.

Therefore, of course, I think he got screwed and should be compensated for sure.

[broma25 2]

Guess he never heard of a second opinion...

Its hard enough to get 1 opinion in the UK....don't forget its NHS....

True dat. I once tried to get a second opinion on the NHS; there was only one consultant in my PCT who could deal with my condition, and he was the one who pissed me off. My doc tried to get the next PCT over to see me, but they essentially told her to go piss up a rope.

I could have gone private, but again the only private consultant urologist in the area was the very one who I saw on the NHS.

Second opinion? Hahaha...what's that?

A lot of times your lucky to get any kind of opinion at all....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Guess he never heard of a second opinion...

Its hard enough to get 1 opinion in the UK....don't forget its NHS....

Even for a terminal diagnosis...? Hmm... I'm not sure.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I have had relative's die waiting for a second opinion in the UK.... My Grandfather died before getting an appointment with a specialist, he waited 8 months...... so he never even got the first opinion....

Kez

[almaty 19]

the guy lived his azz off..and now, he is going to live longer..he is a lucky chopf##k and needs to stfu