Wrongful Death From Delayed Diagnosis of Cancer
Physicians generally rely in part on a blood test, called the PSA test, to screen asymptomatic male patients for prostate cancer. Physicians generally agree that abnormal PSA levels trigger a need to inform the patient about the possibility of cancer and to either refer the patient to a specialist or follow up with diagnostic testing to determine whether the patient does have cancer. Yet, delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer cases occur all too frequently.
Consider the following reported cases. In the first reported case, a physician help off for two years after consecutive high PSA test results prior to telling the male patient that he might have cancer. When the patient was finally diagnosed the result was that he had advanced prostate cancer. The law firm that handled this case reported they were able to settle the matter for $600,000 on behalf of the patient. In the second reported case, a physician took 16 months, with three consecutive abnormal PSA test results, prior to informing his patient, a 64 year old man. Before that the doctor had actually told the man that the results were normal for a male his age. The result: the cancer had already spread to the man’s seminal vesicles. The law firm that handled this matter was able to report a settlement of $1.5 million on the patient’s behalf.
As these two cases show, if a doctor fails to follow up on an abnormal cancer screening test result and the patient’s cancer spreads during the delay caused by the doctor, a cancer lawyer can help you figure out whether that doctor is liable for malpractice. In the worst case situation, a wrongful death attorney can assist the patient’s family find out if they may have a claim for wrongful death. The above should not be considered medical or legal advice. You should always consult with a doctor before taking medical advice or making a medical decision. And always consult with an attorney concerning any potential legal matter.
Mental Health
Category: Uncategorized
