Should you think you might have a delayed diagnosis case  consult immediately with a cancer lawyer for advanced prostate cancer and various forms of cancers such as metastatic breast cancer, stage 4 colon cancer and advanced cervical cancer.  As an example, look at the discussion below of a reported claim of a patient whose prostate cancer was not detected until it had already spread beyond the gland whereas his physician had information that was highly suggestive of cancer for between 1 to 3 years before the man’s diagnosis.  The malpractice claim was based on the allegation of a lapse of time of between 1 and 3 years in finding the male patient’s prostate cancer.

In the course of this time, the patient’s family physician had at different times noted a slight firmness on the left of the prostate and a PSA of 4.18 (an almost doubling of the man’s PSA from two years earlier).  Yet, the physician had not told the man that there were abnormal prostate cancer screening test results that were that raised suggested he had cancer, had not referred 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 following the initial finding that the man’s doctor at last referred him to a Urologist (who diagnosed the cancer) after a PSA of 6.8.  By the time of the diagnosis, it turned out\ the the man had metastatic prostate cancer. The man pursued a malpractice claim against his family doctor for the delayed diagnosis of the cancer.The law firm that handled this lawsuit reported that a settlement was achieved with the doctor. The settlement occurred over seven years following the man’s diagnosis and he had not experienced a return of the cancer during that time.The reported amount of the settlement was $500,000.

The material in this article is not meant to be taken as either medical or legal advice.  It is just intended as common information.  Should you have any health concerns check with a doctor immediately.

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