Diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, subsequent therapeutic path: she has already faced and overcome everything, she knows what it means to face breast cancer. For this reason, a BD, 53 years old, resident in a small town in southern Sardinia, must monitor the situation, against relapses or new manifestations of the disease. She wants to do it, the Sardinian health system denies her. Even though during a check-up in August 2023, "cysts on the left side, to be investigated" were highlighted. The woman (the name is known to the writer but omitted for privacy reasons: what matters is the story, not the person) tried to book tests and mammograms in public facilities. She succeeded (although not always). But the machines, it seems, broke. And she, who had been waiting for months, was told only the day before. Twice, in two different facilities.
The new ordeal with medical malpractice began in the summer of last year. The mammogram revealed the presence of cysts. The following September the breast examination at the Women's Center. An MRI was due: performed at the Policlinico. Nothing alarming seemed to emerge (even though a biopsy was discussed) but the doctors, given the clinical history, prescribed a new mammogram, to be done in April at the Women's Center.
"I can't book there for April," says BD, "the schedule is always closed , I even showed up directly, I sent several emails to the contact person. Nothing." There is an alternative: the Policlinico. "I manage to book the mammogram for May 27." But "on the 24th they called me telling me that they are replacing the mammogram machine and therefore my appointment was cancelled and they will call me back. They don't say when." She is still waiting for the phone call. But in the meantime she has found an alternative. In the past few months she booked a new "mammogram at the Senorbì Outpatient Clinic. I couldn't just sit around doing nothing." The appointment was for tomorrow, Thursday, September 12: "Today they called me to tell me that the machine is broken, that they will contact me again."
