Petitioner: Grant Thomson
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
08 November 2012
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to raise awareness of the links between organ transplantation and cancer by providing appropriate guidance and education to medical professionals, patients, their families and carers; to improve health warning and patient information on the cancer risks associated with the long term use of immuno-suppressant medications and to introduce regular dermatological clinics for these patients to improve on early skin cancer screening and detection levels.
Summary:
11 December 2012: The Committee took evidence from Grant Thomson, and Sean Argue. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Transplant Group, NHS Scotland, NHS Blood and Transplant, the British Medical Assocation Scotland and NHS boards. Link to Official Report 11 December 2012 (518KB pdf)
19 February 2013: The Committee agreed to write again to those NHS boards that have yet to respond and seek an update from the Scottish Government once the patient representatives have reported back to the Scottish Transplant Group in March. Link to Official Report 19 February 2013 (374KB pdf)
16 April 2013: The Committee agreed to write to Professor John Forsythe, the Scottish Government’s Lead Clinician for Organ Donation and Transplantation, and Chair of the Scottish Transplant Group. Link to Official Report 16 April 2013 (472KB pdf)
25 June 2013: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. Link to Official Report 25 June 2013 (499KB pdf)
17 September 2013: The Committee agreed to close the petition, under Rule 15.7, on the grounds that the three Scottish transplant units and the Newcastle unit have implemented the Scottish Transplant Group’s recommendations. Link to Official Report 17 September 2013 (597KB pdf)
Written Submissions:
This gravity of this issue is not fully appreciated in Scotland in certain areas of the medical profession.
As far back as 2001 my partner was refused Life Insurance when she divulged that she would require a kidney transplant some time in the future.
Insurance companies were aware of the risks to transplant patients as far back as 2001.
In July 2012 in NHS Lanarkshire, 3 different doctors did not consider a large growth on Sharon's ear could possibly be cancerous. These 3 separate consultations took place with a period of 8 days when my partner had less than one month to live.
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