Teen fears for life after radiation overdose

A TEENAGER who was given a potentially fatal overdose of radiation, 17 times, spoke yesterday of her anger and fears for the future.

Lisa Norris, 15, was given the overdose 17 times at the Beatson Oncology Centre, in Glasgow, where she was treated for a brain tumour. Human error has been blamed for the mistake, the long-term effects of which are not yet known.

Lisa, who lives in Girvan, Ayrshire, said doctors warned her that the overdoses could prove fatal. She began radiation therapy on January 5 following four blocks of chemotherapy.

She was told last Tuesday that the tumour was gone. On Monday, consultants visited her home to tell her about the error.

An investigation has been launched into how the mistake was made.

“I’m very sore and I’ve got burns on the back of my neck and down my ears,” said Lisa.

“I’m starting to blister and I can’t sleep at night ... I could be brain-damaged, I could be paralysed.

“I’m really angry with them, they shouldn’t get away with it ... I don’t know what’s going to happen to me.

“I could have a scar on my head or brain which can lead to strokes, heart attacks.”

Her father Kenneth said: “It’s just knocked us for six. We haven’t been able to sleep at night since.”