The injury lawyers at Morgan and Morgan achieved a $9,728,000 verdict in a medical malpractice lawsuit for a delayed diagnosis of cancer. In this case, a delay in diagnosing rectal cancer resulted in serious and permanent injuries in a forty year old woman, including lung metastasis, the removal of part of her liver due to the spread of the cancer, and permanent colostomy.
Delayed cancer diagnosis, along with failure to diagnose cancer, is a serious type of medical malpractice that can result in death or lifelong disability. In the United States every year, nearly 50,000 people die, either directly or indirectly, due to colorectal cancer, making it the second leading cause in cancer deaths. While the early stages of colorectal cancer may be difficult for a medical professional to recognize, by Stage III of the cancer it generally should be identified by a doctor.
Colorectal cancer attacks the colon, rectum, and anus of the victim, and many times grow to be life threatening before they are diagnosed. Usually, this lack of detection is not the fault of the patient, but may be attributed to negligence by a medical professional.
Some causes of delayed cancer diagnosis include an initial misdiagnosis, failure to rule out cancer by ordering a biopsy, or the failure to order additional tests, follow-ups, or further observation when initial symptoms manifest themselves. Initial symptoms of colorectal cancer include rectal bleeding, narrowing of stool, cramps and chronic stomach pain, as well as regular diarrhea or constipation. Common screening options which may be used to determine if these symptoms point to colorectal cancer include colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies.
A delay in diagnosing has serious health implications aside from the injuries that can result. In the early period of Stage III colorectal cancer, if diagnosed, 80% of patients have a survival rate of five years. However, if it is not diagnosed until the later stages, the five year survival rate drops to 45%.
Morgan and Morgan’s medical malpractice attorneys offer free case evaluations to patients who have suffered injuries due to medical malpractice.
About Morgan and Morgan
Morgan and Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with multiple office locations throughout Florida and the Southeast. The firm handles auto accident cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit Morgan and Morgan at http://www.forthepeople.com/ for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.
