Birth Injury | Cancer | Other Medical Malpractice | General Negligence

Medical Malpractice - Failure to Diagnose Cancer Case Profiles

Case Profile:
Thirty-year-old married mother of two young children developed itching and a rash in and around her left nipple. She showed this repeatedly to her family practitioner who dismissed it as simply a rash that would go away. Over the next few months, the nipple changes worsened and the nipple began to invert. These changes can be indicative of a form of breast cancer known as Paget's disease. After a 1-year delay, biopsy was finally done confirming the cancer that had by then spread to six lymph nodes. The cancer then spread and the patient later died. The claim was that the family practitioner failed to order an appropriate biopsy at an early stage that would have discovered the cancer allowing therapy to be initiated at an earlier stage. The defense argued that the care was appropriate and that the cancer had already spread by the time the rash developed.
Result: Settlement - $700,000.00

Case Profile:
Forty-eight year old single woman noticed a lump in her left breast. Over the next few months, it grew. She had mammography that was read as showing no change from a mammography done two years earlier. In fact, the second mammography showed changes that indicated growth of a tumor and a particular pattern indicating cancer. The tumor continued to grow and nine months later repeat mammography was done showing more changes. This led to biopsy and diagnosis of breast cancer that had spread to six lymph nodes. A total mastectomy was performed. Fortunately, this woman has gone more than five years without recurrence. Patient returned to work and leads a normal life. The claim was against the radiologist for failure to appreciate the changes on mammography. The defense argued primarily that the damage had already been done and that the additional delay caused no further harm.
Result: Case settled on the eve of trial - $375,000.00

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