Devastating moment dying man realised Dr Daryl Stephens failed him

A widow has detailed the moment her husband found out he was terminal after controversial surgeon Daryl Stephens failed to detect the illness – and was then handed a “pathetic” punishment. VIDEO

A devastated widow has told how controversial surgeon Daryl Stephens failed to detect her husband’s cancer – then was given the “pathetically weak” punishment of four hours’ training in cancer detection after he died.

In a raw and heartbreaking interview, Kate Drake believes her husband would still be alive if he had not crossed paths with Dr Stephens, whose chequered history has been exposed over the past two weeks by The Sunday Mail.

Kate Drake and David Lang.

Ms Drake’s story adds to growing pressure on both Queensland Health and medical regulators – who allowed the “nose blow” surgeon to keep practising despite a concerning number of complaints.

“David’s reaction when he knew that he wasn’t going to survive was he walked out of the hospital, cried – that was the first time I’d seen him cry in 30 years,” Ms Drake said.

“He cuddled me and said that he felt too healthy to be dying and that he didn’t want to leave me.”

The Sunday Mail can reveal explosive details of how Dr Stephens failed to properly test Ms Drake’s husband David Lang for cancer at Mackay Base Hospital – in a case which had eerie similarities to a case in Western Australia where in 2018 the urologist was found to have engaged in professional misconduct by a Medical Board Tribunal over his treatment of another bladder cancer patient who later died.

The specialist escaped suspension from the tribunal then partly because his urology services were so desperately needed in Mackay.

In February this year The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) ordered Dr Stephens to complete four hours’ retraining on how to detect urological cancer after Mr Lang made a complaint over the failing to properly test him.

Dr Daryl Stephens failed to detect the cancer in David Lang.

The urologist was first registered as a medical practitioner in 1974 and has been working with cancer patients for many years.

Ms Drake is disgusted with the “pathetically weak slap on the wrist” handed out to Dr Stephens over the treatment of her husband.

“David’s thoughts were always about other people,” Ms Drake said.

“That’s why he brought … the complaint against Dr Stephens … mainly so he didn’t have that opportunity to do that to somebody else.

“Patients need to know they are safe.

“AHPRA assured me their decision on Dave’s case would be published on the website so the public could view it.”

The regulatory action is currently not posted on the site.

The site also does not carry any mention of suspensions or investigations into Dr Stephens during his six years at Mackay Base Hospital.

“The public has the right to know about all serious breaches,” Ms Drake said.

Kate Drake and David Lang loved to travel.

Pictures: Supplied

Dr Stephens was suspended from Mackay Base Hospital on September 13 for allegedly blowing his nose on the sterile drape covering a patient during surgery. Days after his suspension from the public health system he was under investigation and suspended from Mackay Mater Private Hospital after an alleged surgical mishap left a men critically ill.

“I feel sure my husband would still be alive if he had done the right thing and I worry about future patients,” Ms Drake said

Ms Drake told The Sunday Mail that in February 2019, after having some bladder infections and pain, Mr Lang was referred to see a urologist at the Mackay Base Hospital and prior to going to the Base he was seen by a private urologist who took urine tests and the pathology report showed high grade cancer cells.

“Even with this pathology report Dr Stephens told Dave that the urine test was inconclusive and he did another test, a cystoscopy, where a camera is fed through the penis to the bladder,” Ms Drake said.

She said that Mr Lang was then discharged and the doctor allegedly told him he didn’t have cancer, just a small lesion on his bladder.

“He said we should go travelling like we had planned. We were so relieved. We cancelled an appointment we had with a private specialist in Sydney as we believed that there was no cancer. We put our faith in Dr Stephens,” she claimed.

Kate Drake said caring for her husband until the end was traumatic. Picture: Patrick Woods

Symptoms returned and in June 2019 Mr Lang went to a private urologist who took a biopsy and confirmed he had cancer and had to undergo a bladder and prostate removal in October.

“Dave had to have chemo and that resulted in leukaemia which ultimately killed him. It should never have got to that stage. A biopsy back in February would have caught it early with surgery and no chemo. How can a doctor not order a biopsy?” the grieving wife said.

After investigating, AHPRA found that the cystoscopy performed on February by Dr Stephens was not a sufficient investigation for a patient with malignant cells detected in a urine sample and that the patient should have been clearly informed he needed more investigation.

Dr Stephens argued that he would have booked a follow-up but the patient assured him he was following up with a private urologist in two days and if he had been given the opportunity he would have repeated the cytology and followed up with biopsy.

“We were elated when Dr Stephens told Dave he didn’t have cancer,” Ms Drake claimed.

“We never assumed he would be wrong. It felt like a reprieve. He said Dave should go and enjoy our travels

“We loved to travel.

“Dave was older than me.

“I am 49 and he died aged 74.

“Because of the age gap he always worked hard to stay fit and healthy and have routine medical tests.

“In all the years I knew him I never saw him cry but when he found he had leukaemia he wept and said ‘I’m far too healthy to be dying’.”

Dave and Kate were married almost 20 years.

David Lang.

Kate Drake stayed with her husband in hospital.

“I cared for Dave at the end and it was traumatic. I slept in the bed with him at the hospital. I’ve been trying to see a trauma counsellor but can’t get in. I’m speaking out to show that patients behind these complaints are real people who end up with their lives in pieces,” his widow said.

The couple raised six children.

An AHPRA spokesman said if the National Board decides a condition is no longer needed to protect the public, it is removed from the practitioner’s registration and the information is no longer published.

On February 9 2022, the Medical Board of Australia imposed conditions on the registration of Daryl Stephens under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

They were removed once AHPRA and the Board were satisfied the practitioner had completed the requirements.

“This is another tale of a Queenslander caught in the crossfire of a broken system. The Minister was warned in parliament a year ago there were two doctors at the hospital with black marks on their registration. Dr Stephens was one of them. The Minister knew – it’s that simple,” Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said.

“It’s time she explained to Queenslanders why she didn’t act when she was warned. How many more patients have been harmed because of her inaction?” he said.

The Sunday Mail contacted Dr Stephens for comment.

Dr Daryl Stephens.

TIMELINE

What happened after WA Tribunal decided not to suspend Dr Stephens in 2018 as he was desperately needed in Mackay

2016 Daryl Stephens starts work at Mackay Base Hospital

Feb 2019 Fails to properly test David Lang for bladder cancer

Jun 2019 Leads team that allegedly leaves man with penis problems

Jun 2019 Complaint he failed to refer boy, 2, who presented with possible testicular torsion to a surgeon to treat a hernia

Jul 2019 Alleged to have performed surgery in dirty scrubs worn to sleep in his car. He argued other staff wore scrubs outside hospital and he did not perform his duties carelessly or incompetently.

Jul 2019 Suspended from Mackay Base Hospital

Feb 2021 External probe ordered by Mackay HHS finds 18 complaints substantiated, including scrub pants falling down up to once a fortnight from 2017-18, which Dr Stephens argued was not that frequent.

May 2021 Returns to work but ordered into behavioural classes

Feb 2022 AHPRA orders training on how to detect urological cancer following David Lang case

Jul 2022 Executives at Mackay HHS warned about hygiene concerns

Sep 13 2022 Suspended from Mackay Base Hospital after allegedly blowing nose on sterile drape covering patient during surgery

Sep 15 2022 Advises Mater Private Hospital Mackay of HHS suspension

Sep 21 2022 Operates on patient at Mater Private Hospital in Mackay

Sep 27 2022 That patient collapses and is rushed back to hospital with alleged internal injuries and septic shock, a known risk of the surgery

Sep 29 2022 Mater officials suspend him from practice and order “urgent independent review of all his work”