Georgia O'Connor, a 25-year-old British professional boxer, died after a late cancer diagnosis. The young athlete's death has sparked controversy over alleged medical negligence.
O'Connor had a promising boxing career. She won gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, silver at the 2017 World Youth Championships, and bronze at the 2018 World Youth Championships. As a pro, she had an undefeated record of 3-0, with her last fight being a points victory over Joyce Van Ee in October 2022.
Despite her athletic success, O'Connor faced health challenges. She had pre-existing conditions of colitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). These conditions didn't stop her from pursuing her boxing career, but they may have complicated her later medical issues.
O'Connor's cancer diagnosis came after a 17-week delay at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle. During this time, she reported constant pain and believed she had cancer from the start. However, her requests for scans and blood tests were reportedly ignored.
"From the beginning I said I thought it was cancer. But no doctor paid any fucking attention to me. No doctor took me seriously," O'Connor stated. "Not a single doctor did the scans or blood tests I asked for while I was crying on the floor in agony... They are absolute incompetent rats."
The delay in diagnosis allowed the rare and aggressive cancer to spread, with blood stains appearing on her lungs. O'Connor strongly criticized the healthcare system for its failure to address her concerns promptly.
"I was let down, I was told it was nothing, I was made to feel like I was exaggerating. They refused to give me an ultrasound. They refused to investigate. They refused to listen," she said. "They could have done something before it got to this point. But they didn't. Because that's the NHS: a broken system that fails young people like me time and time again."
Despite the terminal diagnosis, O'Connor remained determined to fight. She planned to receive the best possible treatment and work with an oncologist. Her resilience shone through in her words:
"I'm young, I'm fit and I'm stronger than you'll ever understand. Mentally. Physically. In every way. I keep smiling and that smile will NEVER be erased, no matter what happens."
In her final days, O'Connor married her partner, Adriano. He quit his job to support her through her battle with cancer. O'Connor expressed deep gratitude for his unwavering support:
"I've never known love like this. A love that doesn't flinch, that doesn't break, that doesn't even hesitate. A love that says, 'We'll do it together, no matter what.'"
England Boxing, the Amateur Boxing Association of England, expressed their condolences, stating they were "deeply saddened by the passing of Georgia O'Connor."
O'Connor's death has raised serious questions about the handling of her case by the NHS. Her criticism of the healthcare system and the alleged negligence in her diagnosis have sparked a debate about the need for improvements in patient care, especially for young people with complex health issues.
