Article on a hospital in Ireland

An 84 year old man was wrongly diagnosed with cancer and given Androcur; a drug given to sex offenders and people with severe hormone deficiencies as well as transsexuals. He was diagnosed in a hospital in Ireland, before this week being re-diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency called Pernicious Anaemia. One of the side effects of the drug is the possibility of milk production or lactation by men; it is currently banned in the United States.

His daughter recalls her father’s state during the falsely diagnosed treatment: “He became very tired, unsteady, dizzy, confused and unable to get out of the bed. He kept falling over and was unable to be left in the house on his own.  He was constantly shaking”.

She also commented further on the strain that she and her 7 siblings were put under during the treatment “With my dad falling regularly this meant that my mother was under strain and needed support. It took over our lives and it was difficult to work, sleep or try to have any sort of a life during this time. Each time I saw him, I felt it would be the last and the emotional stress unbearable” 

When asked for a comment on the matter, the hospital declined to give a response. This is in the midst of a mini-crisis for Irish hospitals with Dr Tracey Cooper Chief Executive of the health safety watchdog, HIQA, speaking at Irishhealth.com saying that “Irish Hospitals don’t meet health and safety licensing standards”.

Pernicious Anaemia is treated by having B12 injections in order to increase vitamins in the body; it is caused by the loss of ‘gastric parietal cells’ and the inability to absorb B12. Following this treatment, the man is now able to walk up and down stairs freely when before he was unable to stand.