Doctors generally rely in part on a blood test, called the PSA test, to screen asymptomatic male patients for cancer of the prostate. Physicians generally agree that abnormal PSA levels trigger a need to inform the patient about the possibility of cancer and to either refer the patient to a specialist or follow up with diagnostic testing to rule out prostate cancer. Yet, delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer cases are all too common.
Consider the following reported cases. In the first reported case, a doctor help off for two years after consecutive abnormal PSA test results before telling the man that the patient may have cancer. When the patient was finally diagnosed he already had advanced prostate cancer. The law firm that represented this man reported they were able to settle the claim for $600,000 on the man’s behalf. In the second reported case, a doctor waited sixteen months, with 3 consecutive abnormally high PSA readings, before letting the patient know, a sixty-four year old man. Before that the physician had actually told the male patient that the results were normal for a male his age. The result: the cancer had already spread to the man’s seminal vesicles. The law firm that handled this case was able to report a settlement of $1,500,000 on the patient’s behalf.
As these two lawsuits indicate, if a physician fails to follow up on an abnormal result from a cancer screening test and the patient’s cancer progresses to an advanced stage during the delay caused by the doctor, a cancer lawyer can help you determine whether that doctor is liable for malpractice. In the worst case situation, a wrongful death attorney can help the patient’s family find out if they may have a claim for wrongful death. The above should not be considered medical or legal advice. You should always consult with a doctor before taking medical advice or making a medical decision. And always consult with an attorney concerning any potential legal matter.