Doctor To Pay $2,500,000 To Family Of Woman Who Passed Away Of Advanced Colon Cancer After 7 Month Diagnosis Delay

It is estimated that less than 1% people diagnosed with colon cancer are younger than 35. Yet, given the deadly nature of the disease physicians usually agree that rectal bleeding, even in someone below thirty-five, needs to be followed by a colonoscopy in order to determine the source of the bleeding Merely supposing that the blood is the result of hemorrhoids does not meet the standard of care.

Consider what occurred in a published claim concerning a woman who complained to her family doctor that she had blood in her stool and experienced pain as she had bowel movements. The woman was only 24 years old. The physician, just\without even doing an examination, prescribed a laxative after deciding that she had diarrhea and other bowel problems. The woman returned four months later with complaints of constipation, pain and problems sitting. On this occasion the physician at last examined her but told her she had hemorrhoids. The physician recommended an enema. The woman went back to the physician 2 more times and every time was told her symptoms were due to hemorrhoids and she had nothing to be concerned with.

She had to be hurried to an emergency room complaining of intense pain seven months after her initial visit to the family physician. They set her up for a colonoscopy and was found to have advanced colorectal cancer. The cancer was so widespread by the time she had surgery that not only did the surgeon have to remove a portion of her colon but in addition had to take out her uterus and part of her lower intestines. This was followed by chemotherapy. The cancer returned and the woman died in less than 3 years. Her husband and minor daughter survived her.

The law firm that represented the family published that the matter went to trail and the jury awarded the family a sum of $2.5 million. The amount included $350,000 the most permitted for pain and suffering under the law of the State where the physician practices. The rest was for future lost wages. This lawsuit shows what could be the most prevalent medical mistake concerning a delay in the diagnosis of colon cancer.

When a situation such as the one described above happens and the individual dies due to the fact the cancer spread as a consequence of the delay in diagnosis the surviving family may be able to bring a case against the physician responsible for the delay.

By: J. Hernandez

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney accepting medical malpractice cases and wrongful death cases. You can learn more about cases involving metastatic colon cancer and other cancer matters including breast cancer metastasis by visiting the websites