27 Year Old Woman Dies Of Colon Cancer After Doctor Delays Her Diagnosis By 7 Months
Statistically less than 1% of those diagnosed with colon cancer are younger than thirty-five
. But, because of the deadly nature of the disease doctors generally agree that rectal bleeding, even in a patient under 35, needs to be followed by a colonoscopy to figure out if the bleeding is due to a tumor or a different reason. Merely assuming that the blood is the result of hemorrhoids may constitute malpractice.
Consider what took place in a documented lawsuit regarding a woman who complained to her family doctor that she had blood in her stool and felt pain as she had bowel movements. She was only 24. The doctor, justwithout even performing an examination, told her to take a laxative after deciding that she had diarrhea and other bowel issues. She returned four months later claiming she had constipation, pain and problems sitting. On this occasion the physician at last examined her and told her she had hemorrhoids. The physician recommended an enema. She saw that physician on two additional occassions and every time was told that her symptoms were due to hemorrhoids and she had nothing to worry about.
The woman had to be rushed to an emergency room because of extreme pain 7 months following her initial visit to her primary care physician. They scheduled a colonoscopy through which she was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer. The cancer was so widespread by the time she had surgery that not only did the surgeon have to take out part of her colon but in addition had to take out her uterus and part of her lower intestines. This was followed by chemotherapy. The woman eventually had a recurrence and died of the disease not even 3 years after. Her husband and minor daughter survived her.
The law firm that handled this case reported that the case went to trail and the jury come back with a verdict of $2.5 million. The amount included $350,000 the largest amount allowed for pain and suffering by the law of the State where the physician practices. The rest of the award was for future lost wages. This case illustrates what is perhaps the most common medical error concerning the delayed diagnosis of colon cancer.
When a situation like that described above occurs and the patient passes away because the cancer progressed as a consequence of the delay in diagnosis the surviving family might be able to bring a lawsuit against the physician who caused the delay.