Years Of Doctor Ignoring Abnormal Screening Test Results Leaves Man With State 4 Prostate Cancer
This year roughly fourteen percent of the 193
,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer will already have advanced prostate cancer by the time the cancer is detected. With screening, including digital examinations and PSA blood tests, many of these males might have been diagnosed while their cancer was in the early stages. A lapse of time until the cancer is advanced not only limits the mans treatment alternatives but also dramatically lowers his chances of surviving the cancer. Consider the following published lawsuit to illustrate.While doing a physical examination on a fifty-six year old male patient, a doctor noted a small nodule on the left part of the prostate. The physician ordered a PSA test the results of which showed the level to be 3.1 - or within normal range. The physician did nothing else at the time. Almost 3 years passed before the physician again performed a physical examination and documents that there were no abnormalities felt on the prostate. This time, the doctor fails to order a PSA test. The patient was examined by a second physician around six weeks later for an insurance mandated medical examination. This physician ordered a PSA test which comes back at 5.3. This is considered high. The patient then contacted his regular physician's office and was told to return so they can take their own PSA test. This test returned a 3.5 - within normal range. The doctor told the individual not to worry and that no further action needed to be taken.
Again, nearly three years went by until the doctor next screened the patient. The physician again documents the nodule. The physician then ordered a PSA test that registered at 4.7 - high. The physician fails to notify the individual and does nothing further regarding these two abnormal test results. Close to two years after the physical examination shows that the prostate not only had a nodule, but was firm on the side of the nodule and was enlarged. The PSA test now revealed that the leve had increased to 14.1. On this occasion, the doctor finally refers the patient to a Urologist who finds that the patient has advanced prostate cancer that had gotten to the bones in his pubic area and the top portion of his right leg.
An action for malpractice followed in the process of which the physician verfied that the presence of the nodule indicated an abnormal finding. The law firm that handled this matter reported that the matter was resolved for $850,000. This amount incorporated $250,000 for non-economic damages and $250,000 for the wifes future wrongful death claim. This is the top amount that can be recovered for those claims under the controlling law.
by: J. Hernandez