Family only learned their father died from ‘bagpipe lung’ after his story was published


  • Case study of a 61-year-old who died of bagpipe lung was written by Wythenshawe Hospital doctors in the medical journal Thorax last week
  • Eric Tabinor recognised the unnamed patient as her father Bruce Campbell
  • Says he was identifiable and so doctors breached his confidentiality
  • Claims family weren’t told his death was linked to his bagpipe playing
  • Hospital has apologised for ‘distress’ and launched internal investigation 

Madlen Davies for MailOnline

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A daughter of a bagpipe player only found out her father’s death was linked to his hobby when his story was reported in a medical journal two years later.

Last week, doctors from Wythenshawe Hospital described the case of a 61-year-old man who died from ‘bagpipe lung’ in the journal Thorax.

Erin Tabinor said her father Bruce Campbell was immediately recognisable from the reports – and said the report was a breach of his confidentiality.

The daughter of a bagpipe player had no idea her father’s death was linked to his hobby until his story was reported in a medical journal two years later (file photo)

Moreover, she claims the family had no idea his death was connected to his avid bagpipe playing – and believes doctors did not make this clear, the BBC reports.

University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has apologised for ‘any distress’ and launched an internal investigation.

The case study published in the BMJ’s Thorax described how a 61-year-old man was referred to a specialist lung clinic in 2014 after seven years of a dry cough and progressive breathlessness, despite treatment.

His condition had worsened to the point that he couldn’t walk more than 20 metres, and was finding it hard to breathe, prompting admission to hospital.

He had been diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in 2009, although the cause had not been identified.

This condition occurs when the lungs have an allergic reaction to something a person has inhaled.

He played the bagpipe daily but did not take them with him on a three month trip to Australia and his symptoms rapidly improved.

So scientists took samples from inside the instrument, including the bag, the neck and the reed protector.

The hospital trust has launched an investigation into Bruce Campbell’s death at Wythenshawe hospital after his daughter claims his story was used in a medical journal without the family’s permission – and the case breached his confidentiality

The samples grew various different fungi, including Paecilomyces variotti, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium species, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Trichosporon mucoides and Exophiala dermatitidis.

However, Ms Tabinor said her family was not told after Mr Campbell’s death.

She was shocked his case was used in the journal without any consultation.

Writing in the journal, experts urged all musicians to clean their instruments daily.

But Ms Tabinor maintains he cleaned his bagpipes regularly.

The medical journal called on musicians to clean their instruments every day in light of Mr Campbell’s case. But his daughter claims he cleaned his bagpipes regularly

She told the BBC: ‘He knew exactly what he had to do. He was an expert in this.

‘I want to find out exactly what has happened. I want to know how it was missed… why they didn’t tell us, why they didn’t bother to let us know about this, and I want a full investigation into his death.’ 

Dr John Crampton, Medical Director at University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM) said: ‘We would like to apologise for any distress experienced by the family following the publication of the case study. 

‘In light of the serious concerns raised, the Trust has launched an internal investigation, which is ongoing. 

‘We have also offered to meet with the family to listen to and discuss their concerns further.’ 

 

 

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