subject: Lawsuit Against Doctor For Colon Cancer Death Of 27 Year Old Results In $2.5 Million Verdict [print this page] Less than one percent of those diagnosed with colon cancer are below the age of thirty-five. But, given the lethal nature of the disease doctors usually concur that rectal bleeding, even in someone under thirty-five, needs to be investigated by a colonoscopy to establish the source of the bleeding Just supposing that the blood is from hemorrhoids may constitute malpractice.
Take, for example, what happened in a published claim regarding a woman who told her primary care physician that she noticed blood in her stool and felt pain when having bowel movements. The woman was just twenty four. The physician, justwithout even conducting an examination, prescribed a laxative after diagnosing her with diarrhea and other bowel issues. The woman returned four months later claiming she had constipation, pain and problems sitting. Now the doctor at last examined her but assured her she had hemorrhoids. The doctor recommended an enema. The woman went back to the physician on 2 additional occassions and every time was told her symptoms were due to hemorrhoids and she had nothing to worry about.
The woman needed to be rushed to an emergency room complaining of severe pain seven months subsequent to her original trip to the family doctor. They scheduled a colonoscopy through which she was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer. The woman underwent surgery (which due to the advanced nature of the cancer included not just removal of part of her colon, it also required removal of her uterus and part of the lower intestines). The surgery was later followed by chemotherapy. She eventually had a recurrence and died of the cancer not even 3 years after. Her husband and minor daughter survived her.
The law firm that represented the family revealed that the case went to trail and the jury come back with a verdict of $2,500,000. The sum included $350,000 the largest amount permitted for pain and suffering by the law of the State where the doctor practices. The rest was for future lost wages. This case shows what is perhaps the most prevalent medical error concerning the delayed diagnosis of colon cancer.
Too often doctors do not do a colonoscopy or refer the individual to a specialist when a person reports rectal bleeding or blood in the stool. Rather, these doctors simply assume that the blood is the result of hemorrhoids. This is particularly typical if the individual is less than fifty years old.
When a situation such as that described above happens and the patient passes away due to the fact the cancer progressed to where it was no longer curable as a consequence of the delay in diagnosis the surviving family may be able to bring a claim against the physician responsible for the delay.
by: Joseph Hernandez
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