Worksop: Six-figure payout after loving dad, 44, dies of bowel cancer

The family of a dad-of-two have won a six-figure compensation payout over his ‘needless death’ from cancer.
David MallabyDavid Mallaby
David Mallaby

David Mallaby died in 2012, seven years after first going to see his doctor complaining of symptoms which might have been bowel cancer.

The 44-year-old left behind wife Joanne and children, Oliver and Lucy, who sued his GP for negligence.

Mr Justice Hickinbottom, at the High Court in London, said: “The settlement of this claim is not the most important step for Mrs Mallaby and Lucy and Oliver in coming to terms with that. The conclusion of the claim will allow them to concentrate on more important things.”

Mr Mallaby, from Worksop, first went to see his GP in 2005. Despite telling the doctor his father had been diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 45, he was not referred for further investigation but was told just to return if the symptoms became worse.

When he returned in 2011 it was too late, and he died from carcinomatosis.

His lawyers claimed if his symptoms had been investigated further in 2005, he would have made a full recovery after removal of a benign polyp.

Their case was against Dr Richard Davey, of Carlton Surgery, Long Lane, Worksop.