Delay By Physician In Detecting Colon Cancer Results In Passing

Delay By Physician In Detecting Colon Cancer Results In Passing Away Of Young Female Patient

Statistically less than 1% people diagnosed with colon cancer are younger than thirty-five. But, given the lethal nature of the disease physicians generally concur that the presence of rectal bleeding, even in an individual below thirty-five, should be followed by a colonoscopy to establish if the bleeding is a result of a tumor.. Merely assuming that the blood is the result of hemorrhoids may constitute malpractice.

Take, for example, what took place in a documented lawsuit regarding a woman who told her family doctor that she had blood in her stool and experienced pain when having bowel movements. The woman was just 24 years old. The physician, justwithout even performing an examination, prescribed a laxative after deciding that she had diarrhea and other bowel issues. She returned four months later with complaints of constipation, pain and problems sitting. This time the doctor finally examined her and assured her she had hemorrhoids. The doctor recommended an enema. The woman went back to the doctor 2 more times and each time was told that her symptoms were due to hemorrhoids and she had nothing to be concerned with.

She had to be hurried to an emergency room because of severe pain seven months subsequent to her first trip to the family doctor. They scheduled a colonoscopy and was found to have advanced colorectal cancer. The cancer was so widespread by the time she underwent surgery that not only did the surgeon have to take out a portion of her colon but in addition had to remove her uterus and a section of her lower intestines. The surgery was subsequently followed by chemotherapy. She ultimately had a recurrence and passed away from the disease less than 3 years later. Her husband and minor daughter survived her.

The law firm that handled this lawsuit reported that the matter went to trail and the jury awarded the family a sum of $2.5 million. The sum included the maximum of $350,000 allowed for pain and suffering under the law of the State where the doctor practices. The remainder of the award was for future lost wages. This lawsuit illustrates what may be the most prevalent medical mistake concerning a delay in the diagnosis of colon cancer.

When a situation like that described above occurs and the person passes away due to the fact the cancer spread to the point of not being curable as a result of the delay in diagnosis the surviving family may be able to bring a lawsuit against the doctor who caused the delay.