$2.5 Million For Death Of 27 Year Old Woman When Physician Failed To Diagnose Her Cancer

It is estimated that less than one percent people diagnosed with colon cancer are below the age of 35

. However, because of the lethal nature of the disease physicians generally acknowledge that the presence of rectal bleeding, even in a patient under 35, needs to be investigated by a colonoscopy so as to figure out the source of the bleeding Merely assuming that the blood is from hemorrhoids may constitute malpractice.

Consider what happened in a reported lawsuit concerning a woman who told her primary care physician that she saw blood in her stool and felt pain as she had bowel movements. She was only 24 years old. The physician, justwithout even doing an examination, prescribed a laxative after deciding that she had diarrhea and other bowel issues. The woman went back after 4 months with complaints of constipation, pain and problems sitting. This time the physician finally examined her and told her she had hemorrhoids. The physician recommended an enema. She went back to the physician on two additional occassions and every time was told she only had hemorrhoids and she had nothing to worry about.

She needed to be hurried to an emergency room complaining of severe pain 7 months after her initial trip to the family doctor. They scheduled a colonoscopy and was found to have advanced colorectal cancer. The woman had surgery (which due to the advanced nature of the cancer required not just taking out part of her colon, it also required removal of her uterus and part of the lower intestines). She then had to go through chemotherapy. The cancer came back and the woman died in less than three years. Her husband and minor daughter survived her.

The law firm that handled this claim revealed that the matter went to trail and the jury returned a verdict of $2,500,000. The verdict included $350,000 the most allowed for pain and suffering under the law of the State where the doctor practices. The rest was for future lost wages. This claim shows what might be the most frequent medical error regarding the delayed diagnosis of colon cancer.

When a situation such as the one described above happens and the individual passes away for the reason that the cancer spread because of the delay in diagnosis the surviving family may be able to bring a case against the doctor responsible for the delay.

by: Joseph Hernandez

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