<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man's death from hospital-acquired pneumonia has been linked to a "disastrous" laboratory error that led to a mistaken lung cancer diagnosis and unnecessary surgery.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>South Australian Deputy State Coroner Ian White has delivered his findings into the death of Broken Hill man Dennis Charles Jackson, 67, at Royal Adelaide Hospital on January 21, 2019.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jackson had visited his GP in May 2018 because of lethargy, weight loss and shortness of breath, White said today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/shonkys-awards-choice-names-commonwealth-bank-temu-hcf-energy-retailers/100afa9c-2325-4462-a1ec-e1618e6d8c6a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Choice reveals its Shonkys 'award' winners for 2025</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A CT scan showed an irregularity in his left lung, and he was referred to the RAH, where Professor Phan Nguyen ordered further tests and scans, which reported "troubling findings" potentially caused by cancer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jackson was born and raised in Broken Hill, in far western NSW, where he worked in the mines, at the power station, as a carpet layer and as a motel manager.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prof Nguyen was concerned Jackson's long and significant smoking history, and exposure to asbestos and mining dust, put him in a high-risk category for lung cancer.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/dennis-charles-jackson-court-hears-royal-adelaide-hospital-death-linked-to-labs-cancer-diagnosis-bungle/d4754f97-bda4-4ae9-936f-3cff06c1db42" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In July 2018, Jackson underwent a CT-guided lung biopsy and the specimen was sent to the RAH's pathology laboratory, where it was tested and analysed by SA Pathology.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In essence, it is accepted that what occurred is that Jackson's specimen did not reveal any evidence of malignancy," White said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"However, as accepted by SA Pathology, a minute piece of tissue from the sample of another biopsy taken from another patient contaminated Jackson's sample. That patient's biopsy revealed carcinoma.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The consequences of this error continued well beyond this date and ultimately are linked with his death."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The contamination most likely occurred due to inadequate cleaning of instruments used to deal with the sample, White found.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It may involve the very human factor of tiredness as Jackson's sample was dealt with at 2.50am on July 26, 2018," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trent-merrin-former-nrl-star-alleged-fraud-charges/6b3ba774-d66a-4685-8347-cdbc947b805c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Former NRL star charged over alleged cryptocurrency fraud</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jackson was wrongly diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and underwent a left upper lobe lobectomy at RAH in August 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Analysis of a tissue specimen taken during the surgery showed no evidence of carcinoma, and Jackson lodged a complaint after RAH medical staff told him he may not have had cancer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>SA Pathology wrote to Jackson in August 2018 to explain the "disastrous circumstances" that led to incorrect diagnosis, which was confirmed by DNA testing, White said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I understand that the surgery has caused anguish for you and your family and I am sorry that this has occurred," Dr Sophia Otto wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After discharge on August 30, Jackson became unwell and was readmitted in September 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was diagnosed with hospital-acquired pneumonia and spent 63 days in intensive care.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His respiratory failure worsened and he died on January 21, 2019.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>White recommended the health minister order an independent review of SA Pathology's laboratories, with the aim of improving procedures and practices to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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