Coroner alarmed after NHS physician associate misdiagnoses femoral hernia as nosebleed
The physician associate was 'effectively' practising independently, the coroner found.
A UK coroner has issued warnings over physician associates’ scope of practice and supervision requirements after a patient’s fatal misdiagnosis.
Patient Pamela Marking, 77, attended East Surrey Hospital ED in February last year with right-sided and suprapubic pain after vomiting blood-stained fluid.
She could not provide a full history because of short-term memory loss, according to a report by Surrey assistant coroner Dr Karen Henderson.
A physician associate (PA), one of around 3000 working in the NHS after completing a two year master’s degree, diagnosed Ms Marking with epistaxis and discharged her, the report said.
