Myra Corbishley's only brother John Cleminson (64), of Dunedin, who was on holiday in Australia when she died, said yesterday he would not have gone if he had thought she was about to die.
Mrs Corbishley was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm in late July 2006 at Dunedin Hospital.
She was told that her intracavernus aneurysm, measuring 9.1mm, diagnosed by an MRI scan, was unlikely to rupture, that it was curable and would not kill her, Ms Corbishley said.
It was causing headaches and double vision and a whooshing noise in her right ear.
She had to wear a patch over her eye because it had turned inwards.
A cerebral angiogram, which examines the cerebral blood vessels by the injection of a contrast medium, and which would help to determine the treatment options, was ordered and classed as semi-urgent.
Ms Corbishley said her mother had been "so excited" when she was told on September 8 she would have the angiogram on September 11, but her hopes were dashed the same day when the appointment was delayed until October 2 because of the strike.
Mrs Corbishley had been "bawling" over the cancellation.
"Mum was told she had to realise there were sicker people out there than you. How sick do you have to be to take priority?"
It was deplorable that patients had to be categorised and appointments cancelled because of strikes.
People were being treated like numbers rather than people, she said.
A few days after the news of her October appointment, Mrs Corbishley was found dead in her bed, but the exact date of her death could not be established.
Ms Corbishley believes her mother's general practitioner's view that she died as a result of the aneurysm bursting.
This was questioned by the specialist treating her and the expert consulted by the health and disability commissioner, who felt it probably did not cause her death.
No postmortem was carried out.
Ms Corbishley and Mr Cleminson described Mrs Corbishley as a lively, fit person who was not sickly.
She was known for her sense of humour.
