A father from the Midlands endured seven years of unnecessary and gruelling cancer treatment after doctors misdiagnosed him with a terminal illness. Simon Pearson, 41, was repeatedly treated for polycythaemia vera, a rare blood cancer, and haemochromatosis, a genetic condition causing iron buildup, after being referred to George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton with a high red blood cell count and abnormal iron levels.
Unnecessary Procedures
Fearing he had fatal cancer, Pearson—who has a phobia of needles—underwent 42 injections to drain blood from his body. It was only in June 2025, during a routine appointment, that a nurse raised concerns. Tests later confirmed he had none of the conditions. The George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust has apologized and admitted a breach of duty, acknowledging that proper care could have avoided the procedures carried out between 2017 and 2025.
Legal Action and Impact
Pearson has launched legal action with medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell. He is seeking support for the psychological impact, lost earnings, and higher insurance costs. A patient safety probe found he was “subjected to clinical practice that has caused harm” and uncovered no medical evidence to support the diagnoses.
Pearson, who lives with his wife Rachel, 41, and sons Alfie, 19, and Freddie, 16, said: “For years I was in and out of hospital, believing I had a condition that could eventually kill me – sometimes lying awake all night, terrified. There was also the fear that it was genetic and something I could pass on to my children. I felt so guilty and constantly worried about their future.”
Side Effects and Trauma
He suffered from headaches and fatigue, affecting his quality of life and ability to work. “I’m still struggling to come to terms with the fact it was all a mistake. At times, it feels like I’ve lost my sense of reality. I’ve always had a real phobia of needles, so repeatedly having blood taken from me was traumatic.”
His lawyer, Victoria Zinzan, said: “Simon spent years believing he was living with a serious and potentially life-limiting illness, undergoing repeated and inappropriate hospital procedures, which caused him harm. The past few years have taken a significant financial, physical and emotional toll on Simon.” She welcomed the Trust’s early admission of liability and is working to ensure Pearson receives support.
Hospital Apology
Dr Naj Rashid, chief medical officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, said: “I would like to offer our sincere apologies to Mr Pearson for the failings in the care he received from us. Mr Pearson's care had undoubtedly fallen below our usually high standards and caused significant distress to him. We are working with him to ensure he has our full support going forward.” The Trust has carried out a thorough investigation and implemented actions to prevent a recurrence.
