Royal Melbourne Hospital fail to inform Corey Bowerman of lymphoma cancer that killed him
Amazing hospital blunder is blamed for a father’s tragic death as it’s revealed doctors simply ‘forgot’ to tell him he had cancer
- Melbourne hospital forgets to inform patient about cancer
- Corey Bowerman was not notified of it twice
- He died after the cancer went untreated and multiplied
- The family reached a settlement with the Royal Melbourne Hospital
A loving father passed away after doctors forgot to tell him he had cancer more than a decade ago.
Corey Bowerman had a horror motorcycle accident in 2009 and was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for treatment.
But CT scans revealed there were bigger problems than the injuries sustained in the accident, with the doctor discovering he suffered from lymphoma.
The diagnosis was noted in his hospital record and an outpatient examination was urgently recommended.
However, Mr. Bowerman never received the results during his stay or even after he was discharged.
Corey Bowerman (pictured) died after doctors forgot to tell him he had cancer more than a decade ago
Some six years later he returned to the hospital and again his cancer went unmentioned.
He only found out in 2020 when he was rushed to the emergency room after collapsing in a restaurant.
“We were told by a doctor that Dad only had a few weeks to live, so we were all kind of a mess,” Bowerman’s daughter, Kayla Staff-Valastro, shared. news.com.au.
“It was just so sad.”
During the harrowing ordeal, she was also pregnant with her first child and planning her wedding.
“The whole time I was pregnant I thought, ‘Is he going to meet my child,'” Ms Staff-Valastro said.
@hikayvee We were told that my father had only a few days to live leading up to my son’s birth. Papa told me he would keep fighting until he met him. I was induced due to pre-clampsia – had an emergency C-section – we discharged ourselves from the hospital the next day to visit Dad as soon as possible – Dad finally met his grandson and just a few days later he passed away and I was ready for the biggest struggle I’ve ever had, coming to terms with the loss of my father and taking on the role of a first time mom – what an emotional rollercoaster. I miss you so much #fuckcancer ¿ Dancing in the air – Dani and Lizzy
Mrs. Staff-Valastro gave birth to her son Sonny (pictured with Mr. Bowerman) at 38 weeks. Her father died days later
She gave birth to her son Sonny at 38 weeks and filmed a viral TikTok video introducing the couple for the first time.
Days later, Mr. Bowerman tragically passed away.
“I do believe he insisted on meeting Sonny,” Mrs. Staff-Valastro said.
“When I entered the room, I said, ‘Are you ready to meet your grandson?’ and he got emotional when I picked up Sonny and as you can see on the TikTok he said Sonny’s name.”
Although Mr Bowerman reached a settlement with the Royal Melbourne Hospital before his death, Ms Staff-Valastro remains furious at the medical staff’s failure to act on potentially life-saving information.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital could not comment because the court proceedings were being handled confidentially.
Mr Bowerman (pictured with Ms Staff-Valastro) only learned of the cancer in 2020 when it was too late
Mr. Bowerman’s daughter, Ms. Staff-Valastro (pictured together) is furious at the hospital for not passing on the potentially life-saving information