Male Patient's Prostate Cancer Detection Took Three Years More Than Necessary
Male Patient's Prostate Cancer Detection Took Three Years More Than Necessary
Doctors use 2 tests - a physical exam of the prostate gland and the PSA blood test to detect prostate cancer in men before they become symptomatic. Yet, regardless of whether a physician tests a male patient the tests are meaningless if the physician does not inform the patient, follow up with a referral to a specialist or conduct further testing in case of abnormal results. This can cause a delay in finding the patient's cancer and a worsening of the man's Look at the following review of a reported claim of a man whose prostate cancer was not detected until it had already progressed outside the gland. This occured whereas his doctor had test results that were highly suggestive of cancer for between one to three years in advance of the man's diagnosis. The case was based on the allegation of a delay of between 1 and 3 years in detecting the male patient's cancer.
A male patient went to his family physician for a physical examination. Due to the patient's age, the physician conducted a physical examination of his prostate and documented that it was slightly firm on the left. This is an abnormal finding that is suspicious for cancer. The PSA, though, came back 2.35 (a level ordinarily considered to be in normal range). Nearly two years afterward, the man returned for another physical. The doctor now documented no abnormalities with the prostate but the PSA test was 4.18. This is elevated and was nearly a doubling of the prior reading. Also this reading was nearly double the reading of the patient's PSA from two years earlier.
But, the doctor had not told the patient that there were abnormal prostate cancer screening test results that were that raised suggested he had cancer, had not sent the man to a specialist, and had not ordered any diagnostic testing (such as a biopsy) to determine whether the abnormal test results were due to cancer or to a benign reason. It was not until the third year after the initial finding that the man's physician finally referred him to a Urologist (who found the cancer) after a PSA of 6.8.
By the time of the diagnosis, the the man had metastatic prostate cancer. The man pursued a case against his family physician for the delayed diagnosis of the cancer. The doctor, however, claimed that he never got the report of the PSA test. As such, the physician asserted that he had not known about the increase in the patient's PSA. The doctor also argued that the delay in finding the cancer did not cause an injury to the patient.
The law firm that represented the man reported that a settlement was achieved with the physician. The settlement happened over seven years after the person's diagnosis and he had not had a recurrence of the cancer during that time. The reported amount of the settlement was for half a million dollars. The preceeding is not meant as either medical or legal advice. The above is merely intended as general information. For any health issues consult with a doctor without delay.
The end result of this lawsuit supports the observation that in case a physician fails to follow up on abnormal test results and the resulting delay permits a patient's condition and prognosis to deteriorate that physician may be faced with a medical malpractice lawsuit. If you learned you have advanced prostate cancer and think your physician failed to inform you or take action when tests that showed the possibility that you had cancer you ought to consult with a lawyer.
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