Jury Awards $2,500,000 To Husband And Daughter Of Woman Who Died Of Metastatic Colon Cancer

Statistically less than one percent people diagnosed with colon cancer are younger than thirty-five. Yet, given the deadly nature of the disease doctors typically concur that rectal bleeding, even in an individual under thirty-five, should be investigated by a colonoscopy to figure out whether the bleeding is due to cancer or a different reason. Just assuming that the blood is caused by hemorrhoids does not meet the standard of care.

Consider what happened in a documented case concerning a woman who complained to her family doctor that she saw blood in her stool and experienced pain as she had bowel movements. She was only 24 years old. The doctor, justwithout even doing an examination, told her to take a laxative after diagnosing her with diarrhea and other bowel problems. She returned four months later with complaints of constipation, pain and problems sitting. On this occasion the physician finally examined her and assured her she had hemorrhoids. His treatment: an enema. She went back to the physician on 2 additional occassions and each time was reassured that she only had hemorrhoids and she had nothing to be concerned with.

The woman needed to be rushed to an emergency room because of severe pain seven months after her original visit to her primary care physician. They scheduled a colonoscopy through which she was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer. The woman had surgery (which due to the how far the cancer had advanced required not only taking out a portion of her colon but also of her uterus and a portion of the lower intestines). This was followed by chemotherapy. The cancer came back and the woman died in less than 3 years. She was survived by her husband and daughter, a minor.

The law firm that handled this claim revealed that a jury awarded the family a sum of $2,500,000. The award included the maximum of $350,000 permitted for pain and suffering under the law of the State where the doctor practices. The remainder was for future lost wages. This lawsuit shows what is perhaps the most prevalent medical error regarding a delay in the diagnosis of colon cancer.

When a matter like the one above occurs and the person passes away due to the fact the cancer progressed to the point of not being curable due to the delay in diagnosis the surviving family may be able to bring a claim against the doctor who caused the delay.

You can learn more about cases involving coloncancer and other cancer matters including prostatecancer by visiting the website