Medical Verdicts

Did untimely breast cancer diagnosis lead to death?


 

<court>Wise County (Va) Circuit Court</court>

A woman presented to her Ob/Gyn with a history of amenorrhea, along with breast tenderness and inflammation. The physician treated the patient’s amenorrhea and referred her to a radiologist for a mammography.

The radiologist reported that the mammography and manual breast exam were normal. Shortly after, the woman changed physicians. During a visit, the new doctor found a breast mass and ordered a biopsy. Following the procedure, the woman underwent a right mastectomy, followed by 2 years of chemotherapy and radiation. She subsequently died.

In suing, the patient’s family claimed that if a prompt diagnosis had been made, she would have had a 70% chance of being cured.

The physician maintained that even if the cancer had been diagnosed earlier, the outcome would have been the same.

  • The jury returned a verdict for the defense.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Recommended Reading

Inserting tandem and ovoids
MDedge ObGyn
Dividing postpartum care between the FP and Ob
MDedge ObGyn
ICD-9-CM changes: what they mean for the Ob/Gyn
MDedge ObGyn
Laparoscopy leads to sepsis, peritonitis, death
MDedge ObGyn
Was hysterectomy for pelvic pain unnecessary?
MDedge ObGyn
Woman develops necrotizing fasciitis after tubal ligation
MDedge ObGyn
Did delayed delivery of second twin cause cerebral palsy?
MDedge ObGyn
Was cesarean indicated for baby with shoulder dystocia?
MDedge ObGyn
Acne treatment causes complications in gravida
MDedge ObGyn
Tubal ligation leads to hemorrhage, early menopause
MDedge ObGyn