Father, 25, dies from brain tumour after doctors misdiagnosed him with appendicitis and dismissed brain scan ‘anomaly’ as ‘computer error’
A young father-of-one died from a brain tumor wrongly diagnosed by doctors as appendicitis, his family claims.
Joshua Warner, from Crayford, south-east London, went to hospital in June after suffering from headaches and being ill for two weeks.
Medics gave him a CT scan and told the 25-year-old he had appendicitis and had undergone surgery to remove the organ.
However, when the self-employed carpenter still felt unwell, he underwent further tests, which revealed an abnormality in his brain. However, this was dismissed as a computer error, his family says.
It wasn’t until weeks later, when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital, that his brain tumor was confirmed. He died 12 days later.
His family, who say Warner was a “great father” and “fanatic man,” said they are sharing his story in the hope that others won’t have the same experience.
Joshua Warner (pictured with son Andrew), from Crayford, south-east London, went to hospital in June after suffering from headaches and being ill for two weeks
Medics gave him a CT scan and told the 25-year-old he had appendicitis and had undergone surgery to remove the organ.
Mr Warner went to Darent Valley Hospital at the end of June where he underwent surgery for appendicitis – a painful swelling of the appendix.
But a few hours after returning home, he was readmitted to the hospital because he still felt ill.
His mother, Eve Pateman, from Bexleyheath, south-east London, said that when he saw the medical team the next day they told him there was ‘nothing wrong’ with his appendix.
Another scan revealed an abnormality in his brain. But doctors said it was a computer error and discharged him, his family says.
The back and forth to Darent Valley Hospital A&E continued and Mr Warner was repeatedly turned away.
But just weeks later he collapsed his grandparents’ bathroom and was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich for another CT scan.
The results matched the previous scans and within 24 hours Mr Warner was told he had a large brain tumor that had spread from the right side of his brain to the spine and brain stem.
He was transferred to an oncology department.
On September 5, he underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain cancer, midline glioma.
The grade 4 tumor – which means it is cancerous and often comes back after treatment – grows quickly, is likely to spread and is difficult to remove with surgery.
Headache, nausea and fatigue are among the main symptoms, along with problems with walking, coordination and balance and weakness in the arms and legs.
Patients survive on average eight to eleven months after diagnosis.
Mr Warner’s family were told he had three months to live, but he died just 12 days later at Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.
His mother said: ‘He wanted to share his story because he didn’t want anyone else to disbelieve. He wanted to draw attention to the symptoms of a brain tumor.’
She said: “Josh was fun, he liked to make people laugh.
‘He was a joker, had a beautiful soul and a very good heart and I think that’s why most people fell in love with him. He touched people’s hearts.
‘He was a wonderful father, brother and a brilliant son. He was just a wonderful man.
“He was so incredibly brave, I can’t quantify how brave he was through it all. He never moaned. I think I would feel sorry for myself, but he never did.”
However, when the self-employed carpenter still felt unwell, he underwent further tests, which revealed an abnormality in his brain. However, this was dismissed as a computer error
It wasn’t until weeks later, when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital, that his brain tumor was confirmed. He died 12 days later
His family (father David Warner and mother Eve Pateman, pictured) who say Mr Warner was a ‘great father’ and ‘fanatic man’ said they are sharing his story in the hope others will not have the same experience
Mrs Pateman added: ‘He didn’t want anyone else to go through what he had gone through. We soon started working on brain tumor research. He just wanted to give, even in his most difficult time.”
The medical examiner told Ms. Pateman that a report is being sent to the coroner’s office.
Mrs Pateman said: ‘There is no doubt about the cause of his death but it is down to his treatment and to see if there were any missed opportunities.’
A fundraising page has raised almost £20,000 to fund Mr Warner’s treatment, but will now be put into a fund for his four-year-old son Andrew.
Mrs Pateman said: “We have been hugely supported by the community and our family. People have been incredibly generous. I have just been overwhelmed by the generosity of companies and people.
“It was Joshua’s wish that the money raised would go into a trust fund for his son. It is a truly wonderful legacy that he was able to leave behind.
“He loved his son so much and it is heartbreaking to see Andrew asking where his father is.”
When he was diagnosed, his family felt let down by Darent Valley Hospital and were in the process of making a complaint about his care.
A spokesperson for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said it was investigating the matter.