Not Recognizing Complaints Consistent With Colon Cancer Can Result in A Medical Negligence Lawsuit
Among the varieties of lawsuits pursued by a cancer attorney are ones that deal with colon cancer. Among the situations that most commonly occur are due to a physician having told a patient that the blood they noticed in their stool was due merely to hemorrhoids when in reality the patient actually has colon cancer. Some of the other most frequently seen delayed diagnosis situations involve advanced breast cancer, advanced prostate cancer and advanced colon cancer. Let’s, however, maintain focus on colon cancer.
A pattern that goes on far too commonly includes a physician indicating to a patient with complaints of blood in the stool that the patient merely has hemorrhoids and there is nothing to fret about. Yet, the blood is really due to colon cancer all along. How does this happen and what options does the patient and his or her family have when it does happen?
Generally, physicians suggest that in case a patient complains of blood in the stool that a colonoscopy is called for to ascertain whether the patient has colon cancer or the blood is caused by something else. The colonoscopy is a procedure that helps determine whether the blood is the result of colon cancer or something else such as hemorrhoids. Although blood in the stool is probably due to something other than colon cancer not performing proper tests places the patient at risk of having cancer that will continue to grow and spread every day it is not diagnosed.
If appropriate tests (such as a colonoscopy) are performed as soon as the patient exhibits symptoms consistent with colon cancer it is possible that the cancer will be found while it is still in the early stage. Early detection generally means that the cancer can be removed surgically (or maybe even during a colonoscopy) and the patient may not need to have chemotherapy. Early detection also generally means that the patient has a far greater chance of surviving the cancer. Should the patient in fact have cancer then not letting the patient know that the blood may be due to cancer the physician effectively impedes the diagnosis. The postponement can allow for the advancement of the cancer so that it metastasizes. At that time, there are fewer treatment options and a much lower likelihood of survival.
Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction in which the doctor was responsible for the delay, this might give rise to a claim for which a medical malpractice lawyer or in the most extreme case, a wrongful death attorney may be able to assist you!. Clearly, the above is meant simply as basic information regarding certain varieties of potential medical malpractice cases rather than as legal or medical advice. You need to consult with a physician concerning any medical issues or medical advice.
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 4:46 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.