Jessica Brady’s death at 27, due to cancer missed for months despite numerous GP appointments, has led to a new NHS safety policy called “Jess’s Rule.” Jessica was told she was too young for cancer and symptoms were attributed to long COVID during 2020. Her condition worsened over time, with symptoms including enlarged lymph nodes and severe fatigue.
Only after private consultation was she diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma, with no treatment options remaining, and she died soon after. NHS England’s new rule requests that doctors rethink diagnoses if a patient has three or more visits without a clear cause, aiming to catch deadly illnesses earlier.
The initiative honors Jessica’s courage and urges medical professionals to take every patient’s concerns seriously regardless of age.
