NHS Trust admits liability in long-running chemotherapy scandal
Prof Ian Brown's patients were told that treatment was lifesaving but UHCW later confirmed it was neither evidence-based nor aligned with NICE guidance.
Chemotherapy Negligence Claims
Experts in justice when something has gone wrong with your cancer treatment. We support individuals and families affected by chemotherapy negligence.
Chemotherapy is a critical treatment for many cancer patients. Yet when it’s administered negligently it can cause significant harm and long-term side effects. If you or a loved one has suffered due to chemotherapy negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.
Our expert medical negligence solicitors are here to help you navigate this challenging process from both a personal and legal perspective. We understand the emotional toll and just how difficult it can be to learn that something has gone wrong with your medical treatment. We’ve helped many patients through highly stressful and upsetting situations and successfully secured compensation that enabled them to move forward in life.
We work with many clients who've had delayed diagnoses of various cancers including bowel and rectal cancers, oesophageal cancers, sarcomas, carcinomas and many more. If you feel that potential symptoms which were suggestive of cancers were inadequately or incorrect investigated or believe that there were opportunities to diagnose you sooner, we may be able to help.
Our team is accredited in medical negligence by the Law Society and members of the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL). As a firm, we’re recommended by The Times Best Law Firms 2025, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.
Talk to us by giving us a call on 0333 004 4488, sending us an email at medneg@brabners.com or completing our contact form.
Find out more about cancer negligence claims below.
Supporting Coventry patients affected by unnecessary temozolomide chemotherapy treatments
We’re currently assisting many patients affected by unnecessary prolonged temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy treatments administered under the care of Professor Ian Brown at the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (UHCW). These cases involve individuals with brain and spinal tumours.
Usually, such treatment is short-term and based on medical guidelines. Yet in this case, patients were administered chemotherapy for extended periods of time — undergoing courses of chemotherapy longer than six cycles without good reason. As reported by the BBC, Professor Brown "is now under interim restrictions, with conditions on his ability to practise". We initially referred Professor Ian Brown to the General Medical Council (GMC) and remain in close contact to keep the GMC informed of the latest developments. As per another recent BBC News article, we've since obtained data via Freedom of Information requests which shows that UHCW spent over than £3.6m on TMZ in the fifteen years between 2009 and 2024 — "over ten times that of comparable NHS hospitals".
For many, this revelation may come as a shock after years of believing that they were undergoing life-saving treatment. Enduring repeated waves of temozolomide chemotherapy over many years can take a significant toll on health and wellbeing.
If you believe that you or a loved one may have been subjected to unwarranted chemotherapy while being treated by Professor Brown, it’s essential to know your legal options. Pursuing a medical negligence claim may not only provide financial compensation but also hold medical professionals accountable for their actions.
Our experts are happy to speak to you in the strictest of confidence. We can help you to find the best route to taking back control of your life.
As the only law firm to have been working on these cases since April 2024, we're best placed to support your claim.
We're now calling for an extended patient safety review and independent investigation into this unnecessary chemotherapy regime and working closely with leading independent medical experts and specialist counsel, Louis Browne KC and Tim Wilkinson from Exchange Chambers. Their expertise has been instrumental in analysing complex clinical evidence and identifying systemic failures of care.
Watch: The full story — Prof Ian Brown & Ian Edwards accused of failing patients at Coventry Hospital with prolonged temozolomide chemotherapy
Understanding chemotherapy negligence
What constitutes chemotherapy negligence?
Chemotherapy negligence can occur in various forms, including:
- Incorrect dosage — administering too much or too little chemotherapy can lead to severe side effects or ineffective treatment.
- Delayed treatment — any delay in administering chemotherapy can impact the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Failure to monitor — proper monitoring during chemotherapy is crucial to ensure the patient's safety and adjust treatment as needed.
- Lack of informed consent — patients must be fully informed about the risks and benefits of chemotherapy before treatment begins.
Common consequences of chemotherapy negligence
Negligent chemotherapy treatment can result in:
- Severe side effects — including nausea, fatigue and increased risk of infections.
- Worsening of condition — ineffective treatment can lead to the progression of cancer.
- Emotional and psychological impact — the stress and anxiety caused by negligent treatment can have long-lasting effects on patients and their families.
Experienced chemotherapy negligence solicitors
Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive support.
We’ll evaluate your case by conducting a thorough review of your medical records and treatment history.
Watch: Unnecessary chemotherapy & Temozolomide FAQs
Experienced, accredited cancer treatment negligence solicitors
Our team of expert medical negligence solicitors has a proven track record of successfully handling chemotherapy negligence claims. We offer compassionate support, thorough case evaluation and dedicated representation to help you secure the compensation you deserve.
If you believe that you’ve been a victim of chemotherapy negligence, don't hesitate to reach out to us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We investigate and pursue claims under a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement. This means that you won’t need to pay any upfront cost for us to investigate your claim.
Led by the highly experienced Fiona Tinsley — a Law Society Panel Accredited Solicitor with a strong background in medical law and analysis of evidence — our team has expertise in medical negligence relating to chemotherapy treatments. Fiona deals with all aspects of medical negligence relating to delay, misdiagnosis, mismanagement and consent issues where a patient has become injured, deteriorated or has passed away as a result of negligent treatment or care.
Fiona works alongside our wider team that includes Solicitor Andrew Tindall as well as Paralegals Becky Addison and Lara Cahill.
Meet your experts
Watch: Exposing systemic failures in chemotherapy overuse within NHS trusts
“Fiona [Tinsley’s] attention to detail and compassion [was] astonishing... Fiona concluded my case, negotiating a substantial settlement on my (and my wife’s) behalf, helping to secure our future. I'd happily recommend Fiona and Brabners in regard to any clinical negligence claim in the future. You could not get a better service.”
Anonymous client 'MP'
“I was so fortunate to have found Becky Addison along with Brabners — you gave me courage to move forward with life. People need to know that help is out there. Thank you for all your empathy... your firm is truly second to none. I feel truly blessed to have found you.”
Client feedback
“Thank you for everything you've done. You've gone above and beyond most solicitors. You really have been amazing and I feel like I've gained a friend through this process.”
Client feedback
“Fiona Tinsley was very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable throughout my case, for which I was extremely grateful and managed to obtain a very successful outcome. Easy to contact and answered emails quickly and efficiently.”
Client feedback
“You [Andrew Tindall] have been fantastic, very friendly and easy to communicate with. You've been very helpful and the whole process has been very easy for myself. I really can’t thank you enough for all your efforts.”
Client feedback
“I couldn't be more impressed with Becky Addison. She took the time to thoroughly understand my situation, patiently listening to all my concerns and questions and providing clear, insightful explanations every step of the way. Her communication skills were outstanding, ensuring that I was always kept informed of developments and promptly responding to any questions I had.”
Client feedback
“Firstly, l would like to thank you for your persistence and hard work on behalf myself and the girls. We can now have closure on what happened... It has been a long and tough road, but you have been caring and very easy to talk to and always had time to answer my questions. I will definitely recommend your services if the need arises in the future to friends and family.”
Medical negligence client
“'Thank you' is just not enough to express my gratitude. You're a lovely person with a kind heart and have helped me more than you know. I’m proud to be a part of the NHS and it truly saddened me that I had to consider taking legal action against an industry that I love but you helped me understand how to channel those feelings in the right way.”
Anonymous client 'TC'
Recognised by
Chemo negligence FAQs
“Praised for its ‘genuinely client-focused approach’, Brabners' offering encompasses specialist advice [around] clinical negligence... Key practitioners include Fiona Tinsley, who focuses on medical negligence cases.”
The Legal 500
“Fiona Tinsley brings a joy to her work. This combined with [her] high intelligence, empathy and a fierce commitment to her clients makes her an irresistible force in the area.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500
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