"Dying" Man Goes On Massive Spending Spree - Only To Find He's Healthy
Tuesday May 8, 2007

Imagine this - you're given just a year to live by doctors, who tell you that you have an incurable disease. What do you do? You might think about acting like John Brandrick of Cornwall, England. When the 62-year-old was told he had pancreatic cancer, he quit his job, sold nearly everything he owned, abandoned his mortgage, and went on a restaurant splurging, vacation-hopping spree to enjoy himself before his time was up. About the only thing he had left was the suit he was supposed to be buried in.

But there was just one problem with this macabre maneuver. It turns out the doctors were wrong and that Brandrick's tumour was simply an inflammation of the pancreas, which is treatable and not life-threatening. The result: the man has his life back, but all his savings are gone. And while he's relieved he's going to live, he's also furious with the medicine men who made the mistake.

"I was told I had limited time to live. I got rid of everything -- my car, my clothes, everything," the befuddled ex-patient explained to a British TV network. "I'm really pleased that I've got a second chance in life ... but if you haven't got no money after all this, which is my fault -- I spent it all -- they should pay something back."

Even though Brandrick admits his profligate spending was his own idea, he still wants compensation for his suffering. He may have to sell his house and he's thinking about suing the hospital responsible for the diagnosis. The health care facility claims it's reviewed the man's case -- and would likely have come to the same conclusion if presented with similar symptoms.

"Whilst we do sympathize with Mr. Brandrick's position, clinical review of his case has not revealed that any different diagnosis would have been made at the time based on the same evidence," a spokesman for Royal Cornwall Hospital assures. The entire mess now leaves Brandrick alive and well -- but with a very sick bank account.